RICA 

JTH 

ULLE 


EORGE 
LARKE 
USGRAVE 


/ 


i 


/ 


IN  SOUTH  AFRICA  WITH  BULLER 


:  :;•: 


A  4.7    NAVAL   GUN  IN   ACTION   BEFORE    COLENSO. 

From  a  sketch  by  a  naval  officer. 


IN  SOUTH  AFRICA 
WITH  BULLER 

BT 

GEORGE  CLARKE  MUSGRAVE 

AUTHOR     OF     "TO    KUMAS8I    WITH    SCOTT,"     "WEST    AFRICAN 

FETISH,"  "THE  CUBAN  INSURRECTION,"  "UNDER 

THREE   FLAGS   IN   CUBA" 


'» 


IHugtratetj 

From  Sketches  by  Ren€  Bull,  Maud,  R.  Colon  WoodvaU 
and  other  War  Artists 


BOSTON 
LITTLE,  BROWN,  AND  COMPANY 

1900 


Copyright,  1900, 
By  Little,  Brown,  and  Company 


All  rights  reserved 


John  Wilson  and  Son,  Cambridge,  U.S.A. 


Introduction 

It  is  too  early,  at  this  date,  to  record  the  history 
of  the  South  African  war.  We  live  in  an  age,  how- 
ever, when  interest  is  ephemeral,  and,  unless  one  is 
content  to  write  for  reputation  alone,  a  work  must  be 
published  during  the  height  of  public  interest  to  com- 
mand success.  Thanks  to  electricity  and  newspaper 
enterprise,  gifted  writers  now  erect  very  readable 
books  around  the  slender  fabric  of  cable  despatches. 
The  author  who  has  gathered  his  material  at  the  risk 
of  life  and  health,  and  at  great  expenditure  of  energy 
and  money,  returns  to  find  his  work  anticipated  by 
perhaps  half  a  dozen  books  written  by  men  who  have 
never  left  the  security  of  their  own  homes.  It  is  a 
noteworthy  fact  that  after  the  Spanish- American  war, 
with  perhaps  one  exception,  the  most  successful  books 
were  penned  by  writers  who  never  were  in  Cuba. 
Their  works  are  a  comedy  of  errors  from  Alpha  to 
Omega,  but  they  were  issued  when  the  popular  feel- 
ing was  inflamed  with  victory,  and  their  accuracy  was 
not  questioned.    Hence  the  need  of  rapid  preparation. 

The  dust  and  heat  of  South  Africa  do  not  inspire 
literary  style,  and  chapters  written  on  horseback, 

vii 


414596 


Introduction 

after  sixteen  hours  in  the  saddle,  lack  the  polish 
bestowed  by  writers  reclining  in  comfort  and  clean 
linen.  I  had  planned  to  write  a  personal  story,  after 
the  prevailing  fashion,  but  finding  that  peerless  artists 
were  preparing  word  pictures  of  the  campaign,  I 
concluded  that  a  plain  account  of  the  war  and  its 
causes,  based  on  personal  observation  and  investiga- 
tion, would  supply  a  want  within  my  limitations. 

Thanks  to  prominent  Afrikanders,  who  were  ex- 
ceedingly anxious  that  I  should  present  their  side  in 
the  United  States,  their  views  and  aspirations  were 
freely  brought  to  my  notice.  But  familiarity  with 
the  Taal  is  apt  to  breed  contempt,  and  though  one 
cannot  be  blind  to  the  machinations  of  capitalists  and 
the  blunders  of  imperialists  and  ultra  loyalists,  a 
careful  review  of  facts  will  lead  true  Americans,  as 
lovers  of  universal  liberty,  to  realize  that  the  only 
hope  for  South  Africa  lies  in  its  federation  under 
the  almost  republican  constitution  guaranteed  by  the 
British  flag.  Boer,  or  rather  Taal,  ideals  are  in 
antithesis  to  liberty  and  progress.  They  are  founded 
on  hatred  of  the  Anglo  Saxon,  —  a  hatred  based 
on  past  injustice  but  fanned  to  flame  by  intriguing 
foreigners  controlling  the  Transvaal. 

The  Orange  Free  State,  founded  as  a  republic  by 
the  British  Foreign  Office,  and  always  on  terms  of 
cordiality  with  Downing  Street,  was  in  part  induced 
to  take  up  arms  against  a  traditional  friend  by  the 
possibilities   of  Dutch  supremacy  in   South  Africa, 

viii 


Introduction 

and  the  money  provided  by  corrupt  concessionaires  in 
the  Transvaal  subverted  the  allegiance  of  thousands 
of  the  more  ignorant  Taal-speaking  British  subjects 
by  the  same  idea. 

The  misapprehension  of  British  intentions  not- 
withstanding, the  Boer  raid  into  the  Colonies  was 
unjustifiable  aggression ;  it  was,  from  first  to  last,  a 
war  of  conquest  and  subjugation.  The  great  sym- 
pathy that  I  had  for  the  Boers  vanished  when  I  saw 
their  ruthless  devastation  and  method  of  extending 
their  rule  toward  Cape  Town. 

Patriots  seeking  to  fight  an  army  that  may  menace 
their  existence  do  not  war  on  women  and  children, 
or  force  citizens  to  take  up  arms  against  their  own 
country,  turning  out  on  the  bare  veldt  those  who 
refuse,  looting  their  homes  and  crops.  I  have  seen 
much  of  revolution.  For  three  years  I  was  a  sym- 
pathetic witness  of  the  Cubans  in  their  stmggle  for 
freedom  from  Spain's  grip.  I  would  that  the  ultra 
Afrikanders  could  take  a  lesson  from  those  ignorant 
but  self-sacrificing  peasants. 

France,  smarting  under  the  British  strictures  of 
the  Dreyfus  case,  has  retaliated  by  a  vindictive  anti- 
British  attitude,  misnomered  Boer  sympathy.  Her 
vituperations  against  the  United  States  during  the 
war  with  Spain  prove  the  value  of  her  perspicuity 
in  national  questions.  Spain,  angered  by  British 
sympathy  for  the  United  States  during  the  war,  has 
taken  a  very  strong  attitude  in  denouncing  "the 

ix 


Introduction 

second  manifestation  of  Anglo  Saxon  aggression." 
Holland,  through  racial  and  commercial  ties,  is  in 
close  sympathy  with  the  Boers.  Russia,  ever  anti- 
British,  with  her  Siberian  hell,  her  pitiless  rule  of 
dependencies,  and  black  despotism  over  her  own 
people,  grandiloquently  joins  France  in  denouncing 
England.     Commercial  hostility  dominates  Germany. 

The  people  of  smaller  States,  not  afflicted  with 
the  jealousies  of  the  great  Powers,  take  a  dispas- 
sionate view  of  the  contest.  Strong  parties  in  Switz- 
erland, Scandinavia,  and  Italy  support  the  British 
side ;  Denmark  is  strongly  anti-Boer ;  and  the  Greeks 
have  warmly  supported  the  Power  which  has  more 
than  once  proved  her  true  friend.  The  Balkan  States 
are  decidedly  pro-British ;  and  since  the  return  from 
the  Transvaal  of  liberty-loving  Hungarians,  both 
Hungary  and  Servia  have  proffered  contingents  "to 
uphold  the  progress  and  equal  rights  of  which  the 
Transvaal  Republic  is  the  absolute  negation." 

But  it  is  to  the  United  States  that  England  has 
looked  for  justice.  Certainly  at  this  juncture  sym- 
pathy for  either  side  can  do  no  practical  good.  Yet 
with  common  language  and  ideals  and  a  common 
literature  which  in  the  past  half-century  has  done 
much  to  mould  the  character  of  the  two  nations  on 
similar  lines,  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  — 
the  two  greatest  factors  in  the  world's  development 
—  should  have  a  better  understanding  than  at  present 
exists.     Many  thoughtful   Americans,  animated  by 


Introduction 

neither  party  nor  racial  prejudice,  see  nothing  to- 
day in  South  Africa  but  the  deliberate  attempt  of 
Rhodes  and  his  cohorts  to  grab  two  tiny  republics 
for  their  own  exploitation.  Some  of  them  repre- 
sent all  that  is  highest  and  best  in  the  United 
States.  It  is  beyond  human  power  to  alter  their 
opinion,  perhaps,  but  there  are  thousands  of  intelli- 
gent citizens  who  are  halting  mid  diverse  reports, 
anxious  only  for  the  truth. 

I  would  refer  them,  on  the  one  hand,  to  the  late 
Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  who,  in  a  few 
hours'  visit  to  the  Transvaal,  discovered  that  the 
Boers  were  the  "  torch -bearers  of  the  highest  civili- 
zation," disproved  the  wrongs  of  the  Uitlanders  and 
the  corruption  of  Krugerism,  and  returned  to  propa- 
gate the  duty  of  the  United  States  to  cry  a  halt  to 
the  British  forces,  which  had  not  then  fought  one 
battle  outside  their  own  territory,  and  were  striving 
to  repel  the  invasion  of  British  colonies,  to  raise  the 
siege  of  British  cities,  and  to  prevent  further  destruc- 
tion of  the  property  of  hard-working  British  colonists, 
who  at  least  were  innocent  of  capitalistic  designs. 

On  the  other  hand,  converse  with  the  true  Ameri- 
can residents  in  South  Africa.  Ninety  per  cent,  Re- 
publicans and  Democrats,  favor  the  British  side.  Can 
you  find  one  American  missionary  in  South  Africa 
who  is  not  loud  in  his  denunciation  of  the  Transvaal 
Government?  Representatives  of  all  classes  are  now 
in  this  country.     Mr.  John   Hayes   Hammond  and 

xi 


Introduction 

Mr.  Mosenthal  are  American  business  men.  Mr. 
Morton  Carter  is  a  student.  Mr.  John  O'Brien  of 
New  York  is  a  plain  working-man.  And  there  are 
Bishop  Hartzell  and  Dr.  Hertz,  whose  testimony 
is  important.  These  men  have  tasted  the  evils  of 
Krugerism.  They  speak  in  the  light  of  experience, 
and  from  the  standpoint  of  plain  American  citizens. 

President  Kruger  invoked  as  arbiter  the  God  of 
Battles.  We  can  look  for  no  higher  decision.  At 
2  p.  M.,  to-day,  the  British  flag  was  hoisted  over 
Pretoria.  There  are  many  indications  that  the  de- 
voted but  credulous  burghers,  who  have  fought  so 
bravely  and  suffered  so  vainly  for  what  they  deemed 
right,  will  ere  long  relinquish  their  apanthropic  ideas, 
and  return  to  their  homes  to  help  build  up  a  united 
South  Africa.  They  have  proved  the  fallacy  of  the 
exegesis  of  their  leaders,  whose  greed  and  lust  of 
territory  has  been  one  of  the  many  causes  of  the 
inevitable  war ;  and  it  rests  with  British  statesmen  to 
form  a  tactful  administration  that  alone  can  win  their 
confidence  and  respect. 

GEORGE  CLARKE  MUSGRAVE. 
S.  S.  Ethiopia,  June  5,  1900. 


Xll 


Contents 


Pi.eB 

Introduction vii 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Ultimatum  from  the  Transvaal.  —  The  Gen- 
esis OF  the  Boer.  —  The  Reactive  British  Policy 
IN  South  Africa.  —  Formation  of  the  Boer  Re- 
publics.—  The  Conventions  Compared         .        .        1 

CHAPTER  II. 

A  NEW  Era  in  Transvaal  History.  —  The  Uitland- 
ERS.  —  Formation  of  the  National  Union.  —  The 
Raid  and  its  Consequences.  — The  Bloemfontein 
Conference.  —  War 34 

CHAPTER  III. 

Underlying  Causes  of  the  War.  —  Afrikanderism. 
—  Plausible  Arguments  for  an  Afrikander  Re- 
public OF  South  Africa.  —  Annual  Expenditure 
FOR  Arms  from  1889.  —  The  Shadows  of  War.  — 
Opening  op  Hostilities 55 

CHAPTER  IV. 

War.  —  Invasion  of  the  Colonies.  —  The  Battle  of 
Dundee 77 

CHAPTER  V. 

Elandslaagte.  —  Tintwa    Inyoni.  —  Yule's    Retire- 
ment. —  Pepworth  Hill.  —  Ladysmith  Invested    .  102 
xiii 


Contents 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Paok 
Cape  Town  :   Political    and   Military.  —  Landing 
OF  THE  Army. — Buller's   Force.  —  Disposition 
OP  THE  Columns 143 

CHAPTER  VII. 

v/  Natal.  —  The  Invasion  South.  —  Armored  Train 
Disaster.  — Breaking  Communications. — Willow 
Grange. — Ladysmith  during  Siege.  —  Formation 
OF  Relieving  Column.  —  Buller's  Arrival.  — 
Commissariat  op  the  British  Army.  —  Hospital 
Service.  —  Ready  for  Battle 171 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Repulses  of  Gatacre  and  Methuen.  —  The  Battle 
OF  CoLENSo.  —  Withdrawal  of  Buller.  —  Loss  of 
Long's  Artillery  Division. — V.  C.'s  on  the  Field    214 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Re-echoes  of  Colenso.  —  The  Question  of  Artil- 
lery.—  Lyddite. — Effect  of  Reverse  in  Eng- 
land.— Lord  Roberts. — Christmas  at  the  Front. 

—  Effect  of  Victory  on  the  Boers.  —  The  As- 
sault op  Ladysmith.  —  A  Brave  Defence  and  a 
Brave   Attack.  —  Treachery.  —  Boer   Positions 

ON  the  Tugela.  —  Difficulties  of  South  Africa    252 

CHAPTER  X. 

A  Question  of  Supply.  —  Traits  of  the  American 
Officer.  —  Automobile  Transport.  —  Dundon- 
ald's  Dash  to  Springfield.  —  Crossing  the  Tu- 
gela. —Boer  Bravery.  —  Disaster  op  Spion  Kop. 

—  Vaal  Krantz 287 

xiv 


Contents 


CHAPTER  XL 

PAGB 

A  Battle  op  Fourteen  Days  and  Nights.  —  Cap- 
ture OF  Pieter's.  —  Majuba  Day.  —  Ladysmith 
Relieved.  —  Horrors  of  the  Siege 320 


CHAPTER  Xn. 

An  unexpected  Conclusion.  —  Relief  of  Kimberley. 
—  Capture  of  Cronje.  —  Collapse  of  the  Boer 
Army.  —  Roberts' March  on  Pretoria. — Capture 
OF  Bloemfontein.  —  Kroonstad  and  Lindley  oc- 
cupied. —  Invasion  of  the  Transvaal.  —  The 
Sherman  op  1900. —  Capitulation  of  Pretoria. — 
The  Cost  of  the  War.  —  Conclusion     ....    339 


XV 


Illustrations 


Page 

A  4. 7  naval  gun  in  action  before  Colenso     .     .     .      Frontispiece 
From  a  sketch  by  a  naval  officer. 

Nature's  defences  of  Northern  Natal :  a  view  of  the  country 

that  has  aided  Boer  tactics 34 

From  a  photograph. 

Map  of  the  country  within  thirty  miles  of  Ladysmith     .     .       55 

Uitlanders  fleeing  in  cattle-trucks  from  Johannesburg     .     .       74 
From  a  photograph. 

Dragoon  Guards  carrying  in  wounded  under  fire  ....       96 

Drawn  by  W.  T.  Maud. 

Dawn,  after  the  battle :  calling  the  roll 117 

Drawn  by  Max  Cowper. 

Artillery  covering  White's  withdrawal 135 

Drawn  by  R.  Caton  Woodville. 

"  The  Ladysmith  Lyre " :  facsimile  of  page  1  of  the  first 

issue 186 

The  siege  of  Ladysmith :  unfortunate  non-combatants  taking 

a  breath  of  air 190 

Drawn  by  W.  T.  Maud. 

An  affair  of  outposts 209 

Drawn  by  John  Charlton  from  a  sketch  by  W.  T.  Maud. 

Y.  C.'s  on  the  field :  trying  to  save  the  guns  at  Colenso      .     242 
Drawn  by  Christopher  Clark. 

The  Devons'  charge  on  Wagon  Hill 279 

Drawn  by  W.  T.  Maud. 

xvii 


Illustrations 

Page 
Difficulties  of  transport :  a  convoy  of  provisions  for  Buller's 

army  crossing  the  Tugela  Valley 289 

Drawn  by  S.  Begg. 

Dundonald's  flying  column  crossing  the  Little  Tugela  at 

Springfield  . 294 

From  a  photograph. 

British  ambulance  corps  crossing  a  spruit 297 

From  a  photograph. 

The  thin  line  of  Khaki  on  Spion  Kop 305 

Drawn  by  R.  Caton  Woodville. 

Reinforcements  scaling  Spion  Kop 307 

Drawn  by  Rene  Bull. 

Krantz  Kop 316 

Drawn  by  C.  Davis  from  a  photograph. 

The  aftermath  of  Pieter's  Hill 331 

Drawn  by  Charles  Sheldon  from  a  photograph. 

Relief  at  last :  the  first  sight  of  the  deliverers 335 

Drawn  by  Frank  Dadd,  R.  I. 

British  cavalry  capture  a  portion  of  Cronje's  convoy  near 

Kimberley 342 

Drawn  by  Stanley  L.  Wood ^  from  a  sketch  by  an  officer. 

Victor  and  vanquished :  the  meeting  of  Lord  Roberts  and 

General  Cronje 345 

Drawn  by  F.  de  Eaenenffrom  a  sketch  by  a  British  officer. 


xvm 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 


CHAPTER  I 

The  Ultimatum  from  the  Transvaal.  —  The  Genesis  op 
THE  Boer.  —  The  Reactive  British  Policy  in  South 
Africa.  —  Formation  op  the  Boer  Republics. — The 
Conventions  Compared. 

"  Amd  so  your  follies  fight  against  yourself. ^^  An 
ultimatum  from  the  South  African  Republic  I  Even 
the  champions  of  the  Boer,  at  home  and  abroad,  were 
astounded.  We  had  been  told  that  the  God-fearing 
President  in  Pretoria  was  profoundly  anxious  to 
preserve  peace.  The  English  nation  was  warned 
that  its  political  leaders,  blinded  by  lust  of  em- 
pire, were  forcing  a  war  upon  a  people  willing 
and  anxious  to  grant  all  reasonable  concessions  that 
did  not  jeopardize  their  independence :  if  war  came, 
the  blood  was  to  be  on  the  heads  of  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain and  his  supporters.  And  on  October  9th, 
either  through  an  erroneous  but  not  altogether  un- 
natural mistrust  of  British  intentions,  in  which  he 
divined  a  danger  to  his  republic,  or  seeing  an 
opportunity  for  cloaking  the  realization  of  the 
Afrikander  dream  of  Dutch  South  Africa  under  an 
1  1 


In  SouUr Africa  with  BuUer 

apparent  menace  to  Transvaal  Independence,  Presi- 
dent Kruger  despatched  his  peremptory  note. 

The  ultimatum,  after  denying  the  right  of  her 
Majesty's  Government  to  intervene  in  the  internal 
affairs  of  the  South  African  republic,  demanded :  — 

1.  That  all  differences  should  be  settled  by  arbi- 
tration. 

2.  That  British  troops  should  be  removed  from 
the  frontiers. 

3.  That  all  troops  landed  in  South  Africa  since 
June  1st  should  be  sent  home. 

4.  That  no  further  troops  should  be  landed. 

In  the  event  of  these  demands  not  being  agreed  to 
within  forty-eight  hours,  the  South  African  republic 
would  consider  war  declared. 

The  ultimatum  lacked  the  form  of  common  diplo- 
matic decency.  From  a  republic  that  owed  its 
national  existence  to  England,  it  was  politically 
preposterous.  But  the  natural  indignation  of  the 
British  people,  roused  by  Kruger's  demands  and 
the  blood  spilt  thereby,  has  blinded  them  to  the  fact 
that  the  Boers  are  less  to  blame  than  are  the  in- 
sensate follies  and  mistakes  made  by  successive 
administrations.  A  glance  at  the  history  of  South 
Africa  gives  significant  food  for  contemplation,  and 
British  experience  in  the  past  should  be  of  exceed- 
ing profit  to  future  generations. 

From  the  Dutch  hoer,  a  tiller,  we  have  subverted 
"  boor,"  a  type  of  the  rough,  the  uncouth ;  character- 

2 


The  Genesis  of  the  Boer 

istics  accruing  not  from  the  soil  alone,  but  ever  the 
attribute  of  the  South  African  Dutch.  The  genesis 
of  the  Boer  is  obscure;  he  is  sui  generis.  It  is 
fallacious,  if  popular,  to  represent  him  as  a  trans- 
planted Hollander.  He  is  relevant  to  South  Africa 
alone;   his  prototype  is  non-existent. 

In  1486,  Diaz,  pursuing  the  brilliant  but  short- 
lived trend  of  Portugal  as  a  factor  in  the  world's 
development,  discovered  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
Later,  Da  Gama's  landing  at  Delagoa  Bay  led  to  Por- 
tugal's acquisition  of  a  Pandora's  Box,  the  Zambesi 
Valley :  the  Cape  did  not  attract  the  colonial  enter- 
prise so  uselessly  expended  on  the  southeast.  But 
when  the  Dutch  were  developing  the  East  Indies, 
their  ships  watered  in  Table  Bay ;  the  value  of  this 
half-way  haven  was  perceived,  and  in  1652  the 
Dutch  East  India  Company  despatched  an  expedi- 
tion under  Van  Riebeck  to  form  a  permanent  settle- 
ment at  the  Cape.  Coolie  slaves  were  introduced 
to  cultivate,  and  a  revictualling  station  for  the  Com- 
pany's ships  soon  flourished. 

The  early  Dutch  settlers  were  chiefly  of  the  rough- 
est class,  uneducated  and  intolerant,  —  a  veritable 
scum  of  rentiers,  discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
adventurers,  released  by  the  Peace  of  Westphalia 
or  tempted  by  the  wandering  spirit  of  the  time. 
To  avert  discontent  and  to  sustain  the  white  popu- 
lation, orphan  and  foundling  girls  were  shipped  from 
the   Holland  asylums   to  wife    the   colony.     These 

3 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

maidens,  barely  of  marriageable  age,  were  chiefly 
the  offspring  of  Netherland  soldiers  and  sailors 
killed  in  the  wars ;  many  were  illegitimate ;  few  had 
known  the  softening  influences  of  home  or  parental 
affection.  Reared  under  the  Puritanical  system  of 
Dutch  institutions,  their  knowledge  of  life  was 
rudimentary.  When  they  were  landed  in  Africa, 
they  were  eagerly  seized  by  the  men,  and  in  the 
possibilities  and  phases  of  their  awakened  sex,  the 
evolution  from  asylum  units  to  women,  they  were 
oblivious  to  the  slavery  and  absence  of  sentiment 
in  their  union.  From  such  parentage  the  Boer  char- 
acteristics can  be  traced.  The  bigoted  religion  of 
the  race  to-day  is  the  direct  attribute  of  the  al- 
most superstitious  belief  of  the  rigorously  schooled 
mothers  of  the  nation. 

The  fathers  of  the  embryonic  race  were  not  exclu- 
sively Dutch.  In  1689,  three  hundred  French  Hugue- 
nots left  the  intolerance  of  their  refuge  in  Holland, 
and  proved  a  refining  leaven  to  the  African  colony. 
A  number  of  German  Lutherans  also  settled  in  the 
country.  By  the  laws  of  the  Company's  administra- 
tion, the  faith  and  the  tongue  of  the  Huguenots  and 
those  of  the  Lutherans  were  proscribed,  and  all  were 
compelled  to  worship  in  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church. 
In  a  hundred  years  their  identity  had  been  aggres- 
sively absorbed.  Thus  a  distinct  race  arose :  Taal 
became  the  common  language.  With  Dutch  mothers 
who  had  no  parental  ties  with  Holland,  with  fathers 

4 


Dutch  Cape  Colony 

of  cosmopolitan  ancestry,  the  early  generations  had 
no  emotional  traditions :  0ns  Land  —  Our  Land  — 
South  Africa.  For  them  history  opened  in  1652 ;  it 
centred  at  Stellenbosch,  it  was  circummured  by  Table 
Bay  and  Table  Mountain. 

The  colony  throve  and  expanded  until  in  1778 
the  territory  had  extended  eastward  to  the  Great 
Fish  River.  Here  the  Boers  came  into  violent  con- 
tact with  the  natives.  The  Company  appointed  land- 
drosts  in  each  district  and  elaborated  a  system  of 
defence,  a  commando  being  formed  in  each  depart- 
ment by  all  burghers  capable  of  bearing  arms.  The 
members  elected  their  commandant  and  field-cor- 
nets, who  were  responsible  to  the  Company  for  the 
mobilization  of  the  force  either  for  local  or  general 
defence.  The  struggles  with  the  natives  and  re- 
sentment against  service  and  taxation  exacted  by  the 
Company  without  return  developed  a  sturdy  spirit  of 
independence  among  the  farmers  along  the  frontier. 

Hundreds  of  burghers,  incensed  by  the  monopoly 
and  maladministration  of  the  corporation,  trekked 
from  the  coast  to  join  these  quasi-independent  com- 
munities in  the  interior.  They  moved  with  their 
herds  across  the  vast  grazing-grounds,  iiieir  families, 
in  tented  wagons,  sharing  in  the  peregrinations.  All 
trace  of  refinement  and  the  proverbial  Dutch  clean- 
liness was  lost  in  the  Romany  existence.  Separate 
communities  sprang  up  around  each  stock-farm,  near 
relatives  intermarried,  and  various  factions,  distinct 

5 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

as  the  clans  of  Scotland,  were  evolved.  The  com- 
mon enemy,  the  black,  alone  caused  a  general  combi- 
nation. When  incursions  of  the  natives  had  been 
repelled  and  punished,  the  apanthropic  Boers  re- 
turned to  their  pastures,  holding  themselves  aloof 
from  their  neighbors,  save  when  a  conventicle  in 
some  township  afforded  the  event  of  the  season,  and 
gave  the  farmer  opportunity  to  replenish  his  stock  of 
cartridges  and  cooking-pots.  In  the  pastoral  life 
negatived  educational  or  social  possibilities  and  re- 
stricted the  Boers  to  almost  primeval  simplicity,  it 
also  precluded  the  baneful  essentials  of  civilization. 
The  burghers  clung  to  their  religious  belief  with  the 
credulous  superstition  of  an  Ashanti  to  his  fetich, 
or  a  Tasso  to  the  Porro  rites.  The  Boer  has  retained 
his  faith  to  an  extent  that  would  be  commendable 
had  his  conscience  dominated  his  life,  instead  of  his 
life  having  formulated  his  conscience. 

In  1780  the  residents  of  the  coast  districts  sent 
delegates  to  Holland  to  demand  a  voice  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  settlement  and  a  modification  of 
the  Company's  arbitrary  rule.  After  a  delay  of 
several  years  the  home  government  promulgated 
reforms,  and  the  Company  adopted  a  more  concilia- 
tory policy;  but  in  the  interim  disaffection  had 
spread,  and  the  issue  of  the  new  regime  was  the 
signal  for  a  general  revolt  to  end  the  thraldom  of 
a  corporation  that  ruled  only  for  commercial  advan- 
tage.    The  landdrosts  were  defied  and  maltreated; 

6 


Boer  Revolt  against  the  Dutch 

the  Company  was  powerless.  Holland,  then  the 
Batavian  Republic,  was  overrun  by  French  revolu- 
tionists, and  the  Stadtholder  of  the  Netherlands  had 
taken  refuge  in  England.  He  vested  his  supreme 
authority  in  a  British  expedition  which  landed  at 
the  Cape  in  1795. 

The  insurgent  Boers,  finding  that  they  could  now 
live  as  they  pleased,  sullenly  acquiesced  in  this 
change  of  administration ;  but  seven  years  later  the 
territory  was  restored  to  the  Batavian  Republic.  The 
subsequent  war  led  to  its  seizure,  in  1806,  by  a  British 
force  which  occupied  the  Cape  for  eight  years,  when 
the  colony  was  formally  ceded  to  the  Crown  in  ex- 
change for  territory  in  the  Western  Hemisphere. 

There  were  less  than  thirty  thousand  white  inhab- 
itants at  this  time  in  Cape  Colony,  and  about  the 
same  number  of  slaves.  The  Boei-s  at  first  resented 
British  rule ;  but  they  were  soon  reconciled  to  the 
new  regime,  and  affairs  ran  smoothly  for  several 
years.  There  was  a  steady  influx  of  settlers  from  the 
United  Kingdom,  though  Dutch  remained  the  official 
language,  and  perfect  harmony  would  have  pre- 
vailed but  for  the  religious  intolerance  of  the  Boers. 
Under  British  administration  freedom  of  religious 
thought  was  secured.  Roman  Catholics  were  for 
the  first  time  allowed  to  worship  in  the  colony,  but 
Irish  emigrants  were  persecuted  by  bigots  of  the 
Dutch  Church,  and  the  priests  met  with  much  local 
opposition.     Constant  friction  resulted. 

7 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

Missionaries  of  all  denominations  raised  a  protest 
against  the  diabolical  treatment  of  the  blacks  by 
the  Boers.  Their  representations  to  the  Colonial 
Office  led  to  the  enforcement  of  oppressive  decrees 
for  the  protection  of  the  natives,  which  caused 
further  discontent.  In  1815,  a  farmer,  one  Bezuiden- 
hout,  refused  to  answer  a  charge  of  slave  murder, 
and  fired  on  the  troops  sent  to  fetch  him.  They 
replied  with  a  volley  which  killed  him.  At  his  fu- 
neral four  hundred  Boer  farmers  swore  revenge,  and 
planned  to  capture  the  military  post  and  lynch  the 
officer.  Lieutenant  Rousseau,  in  reprisal.  Their  plans 
were  betrayed  to  Colonel  Cuyler,  the  British  com- 
mandant, who  rode  out  and  begged  the  burghers  to 
return  home.  A  few  accepted  his  advice,  the  re- 
mainder went  to  the  hills  and  defied  the  military. 
After  a  severe  fight  they  were  dispersed,  and  five 
ringleaders  were  executed  for  high  treason  on  March 
6,  1816,  at  Slaagter's  Nek.  From  that  day  forth, 
South  Africa  became  a  divided  camp,  Boer  versus 
Briton. 

The  influx  of  Britishers  continued  to  increase,  and 
ten  years  later  the  Colonial  Office  concluded  that 
English  should  be  the  official  language  of  the  colony. 
This  change  was  drastic  and  impolitic,  since  it  over- 
turned the  whole  system  of  local  government.  The 
Boers  complained  bitterly  of  the  injustice  which  they 
to-day  are  fighting  to  uphold.  Further  feeling  was 
engendered  in  1826,   when   the  missionaries   again 

a 


Abolition  of  Slavery 

protested  against  the  Boer  treatment  of  slaves,  and 
an  ordinance  compelling  slave-owners  to  record  in 
writing  every  punishment  they  inflicted  was  en- 
forced, entailing  a  distinct  hardship  on  the  illiterate 
burghers.  Only  the  tact  of  the  governor,  Sir  Lowry 
Cole,  prevented  armed  rising  against  British  rule. 

Several  humane  colonists,  desiring  to  rectify  the 
evils  of  slavery,  then  formed  the  Philanthropic 
Society  to  buy  up  and  free  young  female  slaves. 
Since  slave  importation  was  forbidden,  this  reduc- 
tion of  slave  mothers  would  eventually  have  eradi- 
cated slavery. 

But  the  London  Colonial  Office,  prompted  by  rabid 
abolitionists,  decided,  in  1833,  to  enforce  general 
emancipation.  Sir  Benjamin  D'Urban,  after  whom 
the  port  of  Natal  is  named,  was  appointed  governor 
of  the  colony  to  effect  this,  but  the  Colonial  Office, 
lacking  adequate  conception  of  local  conditions,  took 
entire  initiative.  The  colonists  received  £1,200,000 
for  slaves  worth  £3,000,000  at  Government  valuation. 
By  the  same  blundering  policy  compensation  was 
made  in  bank-notes  redeemable  only  in  London,  and 
the  colonists,  British  and  Boer,  were  obliged  to  nego- 
tiate them  in  the  colony  at  a  very  heavy  discount. 
Fleeced  by  Shylocks  in  the  exchange,  the  more 
ignorant  farmers  received  one  eighth  of  the  market 
value  of  these  slaves.  But  this  hardship  pressed 
as  greatly  on  the  grandfathers  of  the  British  loyal- 
ists of  to-day  as  on  the  Boers. 

9 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

From  Emancipation  Day,  December  1,  1834,  the 
slaves  were  to  serve  four  years  of  apprenticeship 
before  becoming  "free  laborers."  When  the  four 
years  expired,  they  quietly  relapsed  into  their  pro- 
genital  savagery  and  retired  to  their  old  hunting- 
grounds. 

With  ruin  threatening  their  enterprises,  through 
dearth  of  labor,  the  colonists,  mainly  Boers,  waged 
a  terrible  war  of  reprisals  on  the  Kaffirs,  and  finally 
swept  them  over  the  frontier.  The  expeditions  were 
encouraged  by  the  governor,  but  after  sixteen 
months'  campaign  these  burghers,  who  had  been 
given  grounds  to  expect  compensation  for  their  ser- 
vices, found  their  action  repudiated  by  the  Colonial 
Secretary,  Lord  Glenelg,  who  stated  that  the  depre- 
dations of  the  Kaffirs  (who  had  murdered  settlers 
and  stolen  cattle  at  every  opportunity)  "had  been 
evoked  by  injustice  and  ill-treatment,  and  that  orig- 
inal justice  was  on  the  side  of  the  conquered  blacks, 
not  with  the  victors." 

The  colonists  were  naturally  incensed  at  this 
marked  injustice,  and  foreseeing  that  the  policy  of 
a  rabid  humanity  (as  extreme,  in  antithesis,  as  the 
Boer  inhumanity)  would  make  any  control  of  black 
labor  impossible,  a  number  of  Dutch  farmers  decided 
to  migrate  into  the  wilderness,  beyond  the  sphere  of 
British  influence.  Ninety-eight  burghers,  under 
Trichardt  and  Rensburg,  trekked  northward  to 
Delagoa  Bay,  ultimately  perishing  of  fever  and  star- 

10 


The  Great  Trek 

vation.  They  were  followed  by  a  second  party,  com- 
posed of  one  hundred  men,  women,  and  children, 
including  the  three  Krugers,  which  was  organized  in 
the  Tarka  and  Colesberg  districts,  and  settled  under 
Potgieter  between  the  Vet  and  Walsch  rivers.  A 
band  from  Graaff  Reinet  joined  the  settlement  a 
few  weeks  later. 

In  1837  Piet  Retief  organized  further  emigrant 
parties,  which  finally  reached  the  vast  grazing  coun- 
try beyond  the  Draakensberg,  around  Port  Natal. 
They  found  some  English  settlers  already  at  the 
Port,  but  imperial  control  was  nil;  and  having 
secured  peace  with  the  Zulus  by  heavy  bribes,  the 
Boera  hoped  to  settle  as  an  independent  community. 
In  January,  1838,  Retief  and  seventy  companions  were 
invited  to  the  kraal  of  Dingaan  the  Zulu  chief,  and 
brutally  massacred.  The  Zulus  then  fell  upon  the 
unsuspecting  settlers,  and  over  a  thousand  men, 
women,  and  children  were  slaughtered  before  the 
Boers  could  rally  for  defence.  The  English  com- 
munity at  the  post  was  exterminated.  On  December 
16,  Dingaan  led  his  hordes  to  attack  the  improvised 
fort  of  wagons  defended  by  the  four  hundred  Boers 
who  had  survived  the  raids.  The  beleaguered 
women  and  children  aided  in  the  defence,  and  by  a 
sortie  at  night  a  mere  handful  of  burghers  routed 
twelve  thousand  Zulus,  shooting  down  four  thousand 
blacks  as  they  retreated,  hounded  like  sheep,  to  the 
limits  of  the  territory. 

11 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Since  all  the  English  settlers  had  been  killed,  the 
voor-trekkers,  still  adjudged  British  subjects  by  the 
Crown,  proclaimed  themselves  a  republic  in  Natal. 
This  necessitated  some  manifestation  of  imperial 
authority  over  the  land  that  had  been  declared 
British  in  1824,  and  in  1842  a  force  landed  and 
occupied  the  Port.  Enraged  at  the  pursuit  of  a  rule 
from  which  they  had  suffered  so  much  to  escape, 
the  Boers  attacked  the  tiny  British  garrison  and 
would  have  massacred  them  to  a  man  but  for  the 
timely  arrival  of  reinforcements  which  defeated  the 
burghers,  whose  Volksraad  finally  acknowledged 
British  authority. 

The  Colony  of  Natal  was  constituted  in  1845,  and 
while  a  large  number  of  farmers  remained  to  finally 
appreciate  the  security  of  imperial  control,  the  wilder 
spirits  trekked  again  over  the  Dragon  Mountains, 
from  the  environment  of  civilization.  They  joined 
Potgieter's  voor-trekkers,  then  swelled  by  hundreds 
of  emigrants  from  the  South,  and  spread  over  the 
vast  territory  between  the  Vaal  and  Limpopo. 

Though  these  nomad  graziers  had  founded  the 
semblance  of  a  republic,  they  had  settled  in  numer- 
ous communities,  each  dominated  by  family  feud  and 
personal  jealousy.  Torn  by  these  petty  dissensions 
and  the  fierce  struggle  for  rivalry  between  Potgieter 
and  Pretorius,  the  administration  was  without  au- 
thority. The  republic  boasted  a  common  Volksraad, 
vested  in  a  semblance  of   Federal  control,   but  in- 

12 


The  Transvaal  Republic  Founded 

dividually  the  burghers  set  its  laws  at  defiance,  and 
there  was  not  a  vestige  of  government  that  could  be 
recognized  by  the  Foreign  Office.  By  international 
law  the  Boers  were  still  British  subjects. 

The  land  between  the  Vaal  and  Cape  Colony  was 
a  neutral  territory  peopled  by  the  Griquas  (Boer 
half-breeds)  and  Cape  Dutch  who  wished  to  com- 
promise between  the  Crown  and  the  heterogeneous 
republic  beyond.  Constant  raids  and  cattle  lifting 
between  Boers,  Griquas,  and  blacks  became  a  serious 
menace  to  the  peace  of  Cape  Colony ;  and  to  end  the 
turbulence  on  the  frontier,  Great  Britain,  in  1848, 
annexed  the  "  no  man's  land  "  between  the  Orange 
and  Vaal  rivers. 

The  Boers  beyond  the  Vaal,  fearing  their  indepen- 
dence was  menaced,  promptly  resented  the  extension 
of  imperialism  to  their  borders.  They  crossed  the 
river  and  captured  Bloemfontein,  but  were  soon 
driven  back  by  Sir  Henry  Smith.  They  then  incited 
a  rising  among  the  Basutos  and  were  again  prepar- 
ing to  invade  the  territory,  when  a  British  Commis- 
sion met  the  Boer  leaders  at  the  Sand  River  and 
guaranteed  the  farmers  beyond  the  Vaal  (Trans- 
vaal) the  right  of  self-government,  provided  that  no 
slavery  was  permitted. 

In  1853,  despite  the  pleas  and  protests  of  the 
Orange  River  colonists,  Lord  Aberdeen's  govern- 
ment, pressing  a  "Little  England"  policy,  resolved 
to  revoke  the  annexation  of  that  territory.     The  in- 

13 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

habitants  comprised  elements  vastly  different  from  the 
Transvaal  Boers,  but  they  were  officially  relinquished 
by  the  Crown  on  February  24,  1854,  with  a  grant  of 
£50,000  as  a  sop  for  the  independence  they  did  not 
desire.  Thus  sprang  into  existence  the  Orange  Free 
State. 

Despite  the  Queen's  wish,  the  independence  of 
the  Transvaal  and  the  creation  of  the  Orange  Free 
State  —  two  monumental  blunders  for  which  a  sea  of 
blood,  Boer  and  British,  has  flowed  to-day  —  were 
consummated  by  the  insensate  folly  of  Downing 
Street.  The  extension  of  frontier  in  South  Africa 
they  declared  worse  than  useless ;  they  overlooked 
the  loss  of  prestige  entailed  by  hauling  down  the 
British  flag.     But  as  they  sowed,  so  they  reaped. 

Where  the  policy  of  colonial  officialdom  in  regard 
to  South  Africa  would  have  ended,  but  for  the  advent 
of  Sir  George  Grey  as  Governor  of  Cape  Colony,  it 
is  impossible  to  say.  Realizing  the  evils  that  had 
gone  before,  he  patiently  bestowed  years  of  labor  in 
laying  the  foundation  for  the  Great  South  Africa  of 
the  near  future.  His  wise  policy  instilled  into  the 
native  mind  a  deep-rooted  reverence  for  the  Queen, 
and  the  loyalty  of  the  natives  to-day  stands  as  one 
monument  to  Sir  George's  administration. 

Cape  Colony  flourished  exceedingly.  In  1866  the 
population  had  increased  to  182,000;  it  doubled  itself 
within  the  next  twelve  years.  In  1872  complete 
self-government  was  instituted,  and  in  1882  the  in- 

14 


The  Discovery  at  Kimberly 

elusion  of  Dutch  as  an  official  language  stimulated 
the  political  life  of  many  thousands  of  Boers  who 
had  remained  British  subjects.  Imperial  control  be- 
came practically  nil,  the  people  made  their  own  laws 
under  a  free  constitution,  and  had  the  care  and 
protection  of  a  powerful  foster-mother. 

In  1869  the  discovery  of  diamonds  just  beyond  the 
Modder  River  attracted  a  rush  of  diggers  and  adven- 
turers to  the  district,  which  soon  proved  to  be  rich 
indeed.  The  Transvaal,  a  Griqua  chief  named 
Waterboer,  and  a  native  king,  all  laid  claim  to  the 
coveted  territory,  and  invited  the  Governor  of  Cape 
Colony  to  arbitrate.  The  Transvaal  demand  was 
impudent  aggression;  he  awarded  his  decision  to 
Waterboer,  who  placed  the  land  under  British  pro- 
tection, to  secure  order  among  the  turbulent  spirits 
attracted  by  the  mines.  The  Free  State  then  came 
forward  with  a  tolerable  claim  for  the  district,  but 
since  matters  had  been  satisfactorily  adjusted,  the 
Colonial  office  paid  the  republic  $450,000  for  its 
claim,  —  an  insignificant  .price  for  mines  that  have 
since  produced  millions,  though  the  successful  ex- 
ploitation by  private  capital  was  not  then  foreseen ; 
and  through  British  intervention  farmers  on  the  land 
sold  out  at  their  own  price,  where  otherwise  a  bloody 
struggle  would  have  been  precipitated  by  the  con- 
tending parties. 

As  an  independent  State,  the  Transvaal  was  lead- 
ing a  checkered   existence.     Puny  revolutions,  less 

15 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

significant  than  the  upheavals  of  South  America, 
constantly  arose  i  various  factions  were  at  daggers 
drawn,  and  the  burghers  were  ever  at  variance  with 
the  quieter  elements  of  the  Free  State,  and  twice 
menaced  its  independence.  Pretorius  and  Schoe- 
man  both  posed  as  President  of  the  Transvaal,  each 
claiming  control  of  the  empty  treasury.  Civil  war 
finally  broke  out,  in  which  Kruger  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  Pretorius  party.  He  bombarded  and 
captured  Potchefstroom,  Schoeman  escaping,  how- 
ever, with  Steyn  and  Preller.  Kruger  pursued  them 
hotly  to  the  Klip  River,  where  the  deposed  leaders 
countermarched,  re-entered  Potchefstroom,  and  ral- 
lied their  adherents,  while  Oom  Paul  and  his  com- 
mando followed  the  first  scent.  Strongly  reinforced, 
Kruger  again  advanced  on  the  town,  and  after  close 
investment  forced  surrender.  Schoeman,  Steyn,  and 
Preller  were  banished  for  life.  Viljoen  next  raised 
a  revolution,  which  was  finally  quelled;  there  was 
constant  trouble  with  the  independent  communities 
of  Utrecht  and  Lydenburg,  and  innumerable  fights 
between  smaller  factions,  notably  on  differences  of 
dogma. 

The  history  of  these  so-called  republics  is  not 
inspiring.  In  1864  a  unification  of  the  Transvaal 
was  arranged  by  Pretorius,  who  drew  up  a  defi- 
nite constitution,  which  was  adopted  by  the  elected 
Volksraad  of  the  peripatetic  burghers.  But  pro- 
gression  was  a  word   unknown  beyond   the   Vaal. 

16 


Turbulent  Boer  History 

Though  slavery  was  unconstitutional,  cattle  stealing 
by  the  Kaffirs  evoked  terrible  reprisals,  and  the 
various  tribes  were  forced  to  labor  in  virtual  slavery 
after  their  conquest.  The  Boers,  though  retaining 
their  fanatical  religious  fervor,  still  set  all  law  and 
order  at  defiance ;  taxes  they  would  not  pay,  and  the 
republic  was  ever  on  the  verge  of  bankruptcy. 

Their  Bible  told  them  that  they  were  the  Lord's 
chosen  people;  the  Old  Testament  was  their  guide, 
the  Pentateuch  their  mentor,  especially  the  books 
of  Leviticus  and  Deuteronomy,  whose  teachings  are 
certainly  questionable  when  applied  to  the  nineteenth 
century.  The  sun  moved  round  the  earth,  since 
Joshua  told  it  to  stand  still;  David  was  an  early 
riser;  thunder,  the  voice  of  God.  The  hygienic  laws 
enforced  in  the  camp  of  Israel  they  overlooked.  The 
curse  of  Ham  was  their  justification  for  monstrous 
treatment  of  the  blacks;  their  cruelty  gave  zealous 
answer  to  what  they  deemed  Divine  command,  since 
they  held  Biblical  authority  for  occupying  the  land 
of  the  heathen,  and  meted  to  the  natives  as  did  Israel 
to  -the  Canaanites. 

A  typical  instance  of  Boer  ferocity  toward  the 
natives,  was  the  massacre  of  the  tribe  of  Makapan 
for  cattle  lifting.  The  burghers  under  Hermanius 
Potgieter,  with  whom  was  the  young  burgher  Paulus 
Kruger,  found  that  the  entire  tribe  had  taken  refuge 
in  a  mammoth  cave  in  the  Watcrberg  district.  This 
they  speedily  invested,  building  up  the  mouth  save 
2  17 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

for  one  narrow  entrance.  Several  attempts  were 
made  to  suffocate  the  three  thousand  poor  wretches 
shut  within,  but  the  cave  was  too  vast  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  this,  and  for  twenty-five  days  the  siege 
continued.  The  famished  blacks  constantly  strove  to 
rush  through  the  narrow  entrance,  only  to  be  shot 
down  by  their  ruthless  captors,  and  finally  dead  si- 
lence reigned.  Of  the  three  thousand  men,  women, 
and  children  none  survived.  Nine  hundred  had 
been  shot  attempting  to  escape,  the  remainder  had 
perished  miserably  of  starvation. 

Punitive  expeditions  that  led  to  the  extermination 
of  the  Bakwena  on  the  Mooi  River  and  the  Moseles, 
were  hardly  less  sanguinary,  and  nothing  in  the  his- 
tory of  England's  colonizing  approaches  the  cruelty 
of  these  Boer  reprisals,  which  were  for  extermina- 
tion, not  subjugation,  as  were  the  former. 

Missionaries  who  attempted  to  teach  the  natives 
faced  intense  persecution,  and  the  looting  and  mas- 
sacre of  the  Beersheba  Mission  Station  by  the  Boers, 
under  Landdrost  Sauer  of  Smithfield,  savors  of  Celes- 
tial fanaticism  or  of  the  bigotry  of  a  Bloody  Mary. 
Robert  Moffat,  in  his  fifty-three  years  of  missionary 
effort  in  Bechuanaland,  suffered  from  unceasing  hos- 
tility from  these  simple  Christians,  who  argued  that 
a  native  and  a  baboon  had  equal  souls.  Livingstone 
frequently  expressed  his  horror  of  Boer  inhumanity ; 
many  times  men,  women,  and  children  of  his  people 
were  shot  down  in  cold  blood,  and  others  taken  off 

18 


What  Missionaries  say  of  the  Boers 

as  prisoners  of  war,  in  obedience  to  the  letter,  and 
in  evasion  of  the  spirit,  of  the  abolitionist  decrees. 
Finally  they  burned  his  house,  looted  the  Mission 
Settlement,  and  carried  off  two  hundred  children  of 
his  converts  as  "servants."  John  Mackenzie  lived 
from  1860  to  1880  among  the  Boers,  to  whose  ignor- 
ance and  cruelty  he  has  paid  significant  tribute.  I 
could  quote  Dr.  Nachtigal,  Rev.  E.  Ludorf,  M.  Fre- 
doux,  M.  Creux,  and  M.  Berthond  of  the  Mission 
Romande,  and  many  others  to  the  same  end.  Their 
testimony  shows  that  the  Boer  in  the  nineteenth 
century  meted  to  the  black  such  measures  as  did  the 
Spaniard  to  the  Guanches  and  Antillian  aborigines 
in  the  sixteenth. 

In  1872  President  Pretorius  resigned  to  prevent 
deposition  after  the  Keate  award.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Burgers,  a  man  of  superior  education  and  refinement, 
a  Colonial  College  graduate,  was  elected  in  his  stead. 
The  burghers,  influenced  greatly  by  Kruger,  now  a 
prominent  and  ambitious  political  factor  and  com- 
mandant general  of  the  State,  became  alarmed  by  the 
breadth  of  the  religious  views  of  their  President.  As 
head  of  the  Church,  he  first  proposed  that  hymns 
should  be  sung  at  the  conventicle, — an  unorthodox 
innovation  savoring  of  the  devil  and  the  flesh;  but 
when  he  stated  in  a  sermon  that  Satan  was  an  evil  spirit 
and  possessed  neither  horns  nor  tail  as  pictured  in  the 
old  Dutch  Bible,  the  credulous  farmers  called  the 
elders  together,  and  charges  of  infidelity  were  made. 

19 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

The  intelligent  provisions  he  had  formulated  for 
the  improvement  of  the  State  were  received  with 
open  distrust,  the  treasury  was  empty,  and  disorders 
broke  out  in  every  section.  He  had  exhausted  his 
private  fortune  in  attempting  to  evolve  order  from 
chaos.  Because  his  Executive  called  in  .£77,246  in 
notes  which  were  practically  worthless,  and  de- 
stroyed them  publicly  before  Lys'  store,  the  igno- 
rant burghers  accused  him  of  ruthless  destruction  of 
public  money. 

A  Zulu  rising  was  then  imminent,  and  Burgers, 
seeing  that  action  by  England  would  be  provoked  by 
the  internal  anarchy,  begged  the  burghers  to  stand 
together  to  quell  the  natives,  pay  their  taxes,  and 
sustain  the  constitution.  But  the  dispute  between 
"little  and  big-endians  "  continued.  A  party  favor- 
ing annexation  to  the  Crown  sprang  up:  the  treas- 
ury contained  12  shillings  (|3),  and  Kruger  arose  on 
the  political  horizon  to  head  a  bloodless  revolution, 
that  deposed  Burgers  and  nominated  him  as  Presi- 
dent. To  save  further  disorder  Burgers  prepared 
to  retire.  In  his  valedictory  address  he  warned  the 
people  to  remember  that  British  intervention  would 
be  their  fault,  for  since  the  Powers  had  intervened 
to  end  the  misrule  in  an  empire  like  Turkey,  the 
anarchy  in  a  little  and  bankrupt  republic  could 
hardly  be  excused. 

Many  factions  opposed  Kruger,  the  President  so^- 
disant,  whose  nomination  was  neither  contested  nor 

20 


The  Annexation  of  the  Transvaal 

consummated.  During  this  crisis  the  Zulus  were 
preparing  to  swoop  into  the  Transvaal  on  the  south, 
Sikukuni  and  his  hordes  had  repulsed  the  Boers  on 
the  northeast,  and  numerous  other  tribes  saw  an 
opportunity  ripening  to  revenge  the  past.  The  Boers 
lacked  ammunition ;  there  was  no  government  to  sup- 
ply them;  the  very  existence  of  the  republic  was 
doomed. 

Alarmed  at  the  state  of  the  Transvaal,  the  Colo- 
nial Office  appointed  Sir  Theophilus  Shepstone  as 
High  Commissioner  to  inquire  into  existing  condi- 
tions. Finding  affairs  hopelessly  involved,  the  rising 
of  the  Zulus  and  Kaffirs  general,  and  many  inhabi- 
tants favoring  Crown  control,  he  used  his  prerogative 
and  proclaimed  the  annexation  of  the  republic  to  the 
Crown  on  April  12,  1877,  as  a  measure  necessary  for 
the  peace  of  South  Africa.  But  for  this  action,  arbi- 
trary as  it  was,  the  country  must  have  been  submerged 
by  the  blacks.  The  strong  arm  of  England  was  wel- 
comed or  tolerated  by  the  burghers  in  the  crisis; 
they  would  have  remained  content  but  for  the  delay 
in  the  institution  of  the  autonomy  promised  them. 

The  Colonial  Office  wished  to  realize  a  dream  of 
the  federation  of  South  Africa.  As  in  Cuba  and 
the  Philippines  to-day,  a  military  governor  was  ap- 
pointed in  the  interim.  The  Boers,  who  before  had 
evaded  taxation,  now  found  their  stock  seized  if  they 
refused  the  dues.  The  taxes  were  very  light;  but 
martial  control  is  too  tactless  for  a  people  who  desire 

21 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

to  be  free.  A  martinet  used  to  implicit  obedience 
cannot  successfully  control  civilians.  The  Philip- 
pine revolt  to-day  and  recent  discontent  in  Cuba 
should  teach  the  United  States  the  lesson  it  took 
England  so  long  to  learn. 

With  an  inherent  distrust  of  the  Colonial  Office,  the 
Boers  chafed  under  such  control,  and  the  delayed  ful- 
filment of  promises.  They  showed  no  disposition  for 
patience  until  the  native  war  should  end,  and  the 
cost  and  trouble  of  the  querimonious  protdg^  led 
Downing  Street  to  act  arbitrarily  when  tact  might 
have  saved  the  day. 

A  number  of  republican  leaders  were  retained  as 
Crown  officials,  Kruger  among  them.  After  a  reite- 
rated demand  for  an  increased  stipend  had  been  re- 
fused, he  resigned  from  office  and  became  an  active 
factor  in  fanning  the  discontent  of  the  burghers  into 
open  disaffection.  General  Wolseley  and  Sir  Bartle 
Frere  had  barely  subdued  the  black  menace,  when 
he  broached  plans  for  a  general  uprising.  Since 
Kruger  in  his  official  capacity  had  been  frequently 
consulted  by  these  administrators  with  a  view  of 
ending  military  rule  at  an  early  date  and  instituting 
a  liberal  constitution  under  imperial  control,  it  would 
seem  that  personal  ambition  was  garbed  neath  the 
cloak  of  patriotism  when  he  advocated  revolt.  He 
pointed  out  that  since  the  savage  hordes  were  now 
subdued,  British  control  could  no  longer  be  brooked, 
for  such  control  meant  slavery  to  the  Queen.     In  his 

22 


The  Birth  of  Krugerism 

paraleipsical  speeches  made  to  the  burghers  in  No- 
vember, 1880,  at  Paardekraal,  the  pending  equality 
of  the  black  and  the  white  was  the  main  plank  of  his 
revolutionary  platform,  —  a  claim  that  the  Boers  were 
to  be  reduced  to  the  level  of  Kaffirs  because  England 
insisted  that  the  common  rights  of  man,  simple  justice, 
should  be  accorded  to  the  black,  —  a  contention  that 
claims  Lincoln  for  its  martyr,  and  places  the  halo  of 
liberty  over  the  national  cemeteries  of  1861, 

In  the  two  hundred  and  thirty-two  provisions  of 
the  Transvaal  constitution  of  to-day,  the  clause  of 
ninth  importance  reads :  "  The  people  shall  not  per- 
mit any  equality  of  colored  persons  and  white  inhabi- 
tants in  the  Church  or  State ;  Article  31  reads :  ^ 
"  Bastards  and  colored  persons  shall  not  be  admitted 
to  State  councils." 

Many  burghers  advocated  a  delay  that  would  have 
defeated  Kruger's  machinations  by  the  institution  of 
liberal  self-government  in  the  interim.  But  he  suc- 
cessfully played  on  the  Boer  superstition  of  Dingaan's 
Daag,  December  16,  when  "the  Lord  delivered  the 
Zulu  hordes  into  the  hands  of  his  people."     The  as- 

1  Even  native  ministers  and  teachers  in  the  Transvaal  are  forced 
to  wear  the  numbered  armlet  of  all  black  persons  allowed  in  the 
towns  ;  and  I  refer  you  to  the  recent  Presidential  speeches  to  show 
you  the  Boer  horror  of  England's  efforts  to  franchise  educated 
blacks  at  the  Cape.  The  Constitution  of  the  British  Colonies  says  : 
"There  shall  not  be  in  the  eye  of  the  law  any  distinction  or  dis- 
qualification founded  on  mere  difference  of  color,  origin,  language, 
or  creed,  but  the  protection  of  the  law  shall  be  extended  to  all 
alike." 

23 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

sociation  seemed  auspicious.  Since  Fenian  aid  was 
promised  and  the  entire  British  army  consisted 
of  "  three  thousand  men,  many  of  whom  had  been 
slain  by  the  blacks,"  success,  Kruger  argued,  was 
certain.  When  the  anniversary  dawned,  the  ex- 
tremists rose  en  masse,  and  the  isolated  British 
detachments  scattered  through  the  land  were  sur- 
prised and  overcome.  Pretoria  was  invested,  but 
held  out  until  the  end,  defended  by  regulars  and  the 
Volunteer  Rifles,  composed  mainly  of  Dutch,  mark 
you,  some  thousands  of  whom  remained  loyal. 

Reprehensible  tactics  were  followed  by  the  Boers 
from  the  fu-st;  an  ammunition  train  of  thirty-four 
wagons,  returning  from  the  war  in  Zululand,  was 
surprised  in  a  swamp.  Colonel  Anstruther,  with 
two  hundred  ammunition  servers,  mainly  band  boys 
who  are  detached  for  this  duty  in  a  campaign, 
knew  nothing  of  the  intended  rising.  Officers  and 
men  were  manning  the  heavy  wagons  through  the 
mud,  when  a  party  of  Boers  appeared  on  the  edge 
of  the  swamp,  demanding  surrender.  The  few  troops 
that  were  armed  sprang  to  the  wagons  for  their  rifles, 
when  a  murderous  fire  was  opened  on  the  detach- 
ment from  the  surrounding  kopjes ;  the  British 
were  shot  down  like  dogs,  a  miserable  remnant 
only  being  spared  to  be  exhibited  in  triumph  with 
the  ammunition,  as  a  mark  of  God's  favor  to  the 
republican  cause. 

At  Potchefstroom  three  hundred  men,  women,  and 
24 


A  Sanguinary  Revolution 

children,  including  the  families  of  two  missionaries, 
were  shut  up  in  a  mud  fortification  twenty-five 
yards  square.  Cronje,  whose  tactics  proved  him 
subtle  as  lago  and  treacherous  as  Iscariot,  refused 
to  allow  non-combatants  to  leave,  hoping  to  facilitate 
surrender  through  starvation.  With  only  rain  water 
to  drink,  women  and  children  sheltered  by  a  ragged 
tarpaulin,  exposed  to  frequent  rifle  fire,  and  unable 
to  bury  their  dead  beyond  the  narrow  environs, 
the  besieged  under  Colonel  Winsloe  held  out  for 
three  months.  Then  a  miserable  remnant  of  sur- 
vivors surrendered  through  hunger  to  hear  that  a 
general  armistice  had  been  arranged  two  weeks  be- 
fore, but  the  news  had  been  withheld  by  the  relent- 
less Cronje. 

The  unnecessary  cruelty  had  caused  numerous 
deaths  at  the  last  stage.  The  story  of  that  siege, 
as  recounted  to  me  by  two  survivors,  negatives 
any  claim  that  the  Boers  conducted  the  war  with 
humanity.  The  shooting  of  helpless  prisoners,  the 
mui'der  of  Mr.  Malcolm,  a  defenceless  Scotchman, 
kicked  to  death  on  his  own  homestead,  the  execu- 
tion of  the  loyal  burghers  Woite  and  Linden,  the 
shooting  of  the  unarmed  settlers  Lindley  and 
Green,  Captain  Elliot  killed  as  he  crossed  the  Vaal 
River  after  exchange,  and  Dr.  Barbour  shot  by  his 
Boer  escort  as  he  rode  with  them  to  tend  the 
wounded  prisoners  on  February  21,  1881,  are  a  few 
of  the  many  atrocities  that  T  have  verified  from  eye- 

25 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

witnesses.  They  would  form  a  chapter  of  fact  that 
the  fictional  Boers  in  "  Jess  "  could  not  surpass. 

General  Joubert  assumed  command  of  the  insur- 
gents, and  crossing  the  Natal  frontier,  he  intrenched 
his  burghers  at  Laing's  Nek,  over  which  the  main 
road  to  the  Transvaal  crosses.  Sir  George  CoUey, 
gathering  what  forces  were  in  the  colony,  moved  up 
to  attack  on  January  28,  1881.  The  position,  held 
by  Boer  sharpshooters,  trained  with  the  rifle  from 
childhood,  was  impregnable,  and  though  the  com- 
posite British  forces  twice  charged  across  the  open 
and  attempted  to  storm  the  hill,  they  were  forced 
to  fall  back  with  frightful  loss.  Eleven  days  later 
CoUey  was  again  repulsed  by  the  sheltered  defenders. 
The  general  then  retired  to  Prospect  Hill  to  await 
reinforcements,  and  as  the  Boers  showed  a  disposi- 
tion to  treat,  he  sent  a  message  offering  terms  for 
an  armistice,  which  were  refused. 

On  the  night  of  February  26,  with  one  hundred 
and  fifty  men,  he  ascended  Majuba  Hill  to  prevent 
the  Boers'  entrenching  there,  and  prepared  to  menace 
their  flank.  The  enemies  at  daybreak,  seeing  red- 
coats on  the  hill  directly  above  them,  started  to 
retreat.  Had  the  vanguard  been  prepared  for  a 
frontal  attack,  the  Boers  would  then  have  been 
defeated.  The  light  firing  of  CoUey's  slender  force, 
however,  revealed  their  true  strength,  and  during 
a  feinted  frontal  attack,  a  party  of  Boers  moved 
round  the   base   of  the    hill,   and   ascending  by   a 

26 


Magnanimity,  or  Surrender 

narrow  gully,  suddenly  poured  a  deadly  fire  into 
the  British  rear.  In  vain  CoUey  tried  to  rally  his 
men;  with  most  of  his  officers  he  fell  before  the 
shattering  volleys,  and  the  British  were  driven  down 
the  hill,  being  shot  like  rabbits  as  they  retreated. 
Fifty  survivors  reached  the  valley,  where  they  were 
captured  by  Boers  below.  The  small  number  of 
wounded  found  on  the  field  significantly  corrobo- 
rated the  charge  of  survivors  that  the  triumphant 
enemy,  emulating  the  French  Turcos,  had  shot  the 
helpless  men  as  they  lay. 

Mr.  Gladstone  was  not  in  favor  of  holding  the 
Transvaal;  he  believed  such  possessions  useless 
encumbrances.  Realizing  that  the  revolt  had  been 
prompted  by  past  injustice  and  misunderstanding, 
and  foreseeing  the  expenditure  of  blood  and  treasure 
that  would  be  necessary  to  subdue  the  Boers,  he 
stayed  a  further  advance  of  troops.  Despite  the 
outcry  of  the  army,  who  demanded  that  the  Boers 
first  be  forced  to  respect  British  authority,  an  armis- 
tice was  declared,  and  after  a  formal  convention  at 
Pretoria,  absolute  self-government  was  arranged  for 
the  Transvaal,  under  the  direct  suzerainty  of  the 
Queen. 

Under  the  terms  of  the  convention  the  Boers 
were  given  full  liberty  in  their  internal  affairs, 
slavery  was  proscribed,  and  the  old  Grondwet  was 
retained.  External  diplomatic  relations  and  all 
treaties  with  the  native  chiefs  were  controlled  by 

27 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

the  Foreign  Office.  Protection  of  the  blacks  was 
assured,  extension  of  frontier  being  prohibited,  to 
save  surrounding  tribes  from  aggression.  Property 
and  the  trade  rights  of  foreigners  and  natives,  and 
absolute  freedom  of  religion,  were  stipulated. 

The  triumvirate  ruled  the  republic  for  a  few 
months  ;  then  General  Kruger  was  elected  President. 
Stephanus  Johannes  Paulus  Kruger  possesses  a  com- 
plex character.  For  bravery  and  endurance  he  had 
no  equal  in  South  Africa ;  schooled  in  the  veldt,  he 
retains  all  the  rugged  failings  and  virtues  of  the 
Boers,  surmounted  by  a  stupendous  ambition  for  him- 
self and  his  country.  From  the  Kaffir  he  had  learned 
"  sZm,"  which,  combined  with  the  Pythagorean  pre- 
cept of  silence  and  a  happy  pauciloquence,  served 
him  as  diplomacy,  and  frequently  with  triumph. 
With  the  educational  advantages  of  a  more  civilized 
environment  he  would  have  proved  even  a  greater 
and  probably  a  worse  man.  "He  has  the  blended 
instincts  of  a  Gladstone  and  a  swineherd,"  said  one 
who  knows  him  well.  A  born  leader  of  men,  his 
aggressive  personality  made  him  an  ideal  President 
for  the  early  Boer  republic.  Destiny  placed  him 
beyond  his  ken ;  as  an  old  bottle  for  new  wine,  the 
limitations  of  his  administration  abjectly  failed  before 
the  progressive  commercialism  and  the  liberality  of 
thought  and  deed  that  dominates  the  world  to-day. 

His  first  act  in  the  Transvaal  was  to  replace  the 
illiterate  burghers  filling  public  offices  by  educated 

28 


The  Second  Convention 

Hollanders.  He  appointed  an  East  Indian  Dutch- 
man, Dr.  Leyds,  State  Attorney,  and,  despite  the 
discontent  caused  thereby,  numerous  Hollanders  were 
imported  to  manage  all  affairs  of  state.  Unrestrained 
by  love  of  country,  untrained  in  diplomacy,  and 
engrossed  in  the  acquisition  of  wealth  and  power, 
this  alien  administration  of  the  republic  has  proved 
its  undoing. 

In  1883  President  Kruger,  with  Messrs.  Smit  and 
Du  Toit,  journeyed  to  London  to  secure  an  ameliora- 
tion of  the  terms  of  the  '81  convention.  The  Foreign 
Office  was  heartily  tired  of  the  troubles  and  losses 
entailed  by  the  republic  of  herders,  and  Lord  Derby 
loosely  assented  to  a  revised  treaty.  The  title  of 
British  Resident  was  changed  to  Consul  General, 
complete  internal  independence  was  guaranteed. 
The  restrictive  clauses  by  which  the  republic  could 
conclude  no  treaty  with  any  State  or  nation  but  the 
Free  State,  nor  with  any  native  State  save  with  the 
approval  of  the  Queen,  were  retained. 

Kruger  returned  home  to  announce  that  the  Trans- 
vaal "  demands  "  had  been  met,  and  as  suzerainty  no 
longer  existed,  the  republic  was  an  independent 
State.  But  the  liberty  that  a  government  would 
grant  to  a  pastoral  community  in  a  barren  country, 
of  no  attractions,  and  the  license  that  they  could 
permit  when  thousands  of  their  own  subjects  had 
been  drawn  to  settle  in  the  country,  are  divergent 
propositions. 

29 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

The  crux  of  the  present  imbroglio  rests  on  the 
omission  of  the  word  suzerainty  in  the  second  con- 
vention. It  is  contended  that  the  preamble  of  the 
first  convention  which  contained  the  suzerainty 
clause  was  not  revoked  by  the  modification  of  the 
articles  arranged  by  the  second.  The  obscurity  of 
such  inference  is  obvious  from  a  glance  at  the  second 
document,  which  reads:  '''Her  Majesty  has  been 
pleased  to  direct  .  .  .  that  the  following  Articles  of 
a  new  Convention  .  .  .  shall  he  substituted  for  the 
Articles  embodied  in  the  Convention  of  1881.  But  since 
the  Articles  only  are  specified,  and  the  preamble  of 
the  first  Convention  —  "  complete  self  government  sub- 
ject to  the  suzerainty  of  Her  Majesty^  her  heirs,  and 
successors  will  be  accorded  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Transvaal  territory  ^^  —  is  the  only  charter  of  in- 
dependence that  the  Transvaal  can  claim,  it  may 
be  argued  that  the  refutal  of  the  suzerainty  must 
also  be  a  refutal  of  the  status  of  the  South  African 
republic. 

Despite  the  explicit  limitations  of  frontier  in  the 
second  convention.  President  Kruger,  in  Punic  faith, 
unofficially  encouraged  aggression,  and  when  Boer 
filibusters  had  founded  the  republics  of  Goshen  and 
Stelland  in  territory  under  British  protectorate,  he 
coolly  annexed  them  to  the  Transvaal.  The  incon- 
sistent policy  of  successive  ministries,  conservative 
and  liberal,  expansionist  and  contractionist,  en- 
couraged him  in  his  double  dealing.     His  unofficial 

30 


Boer  Aggression  Thwarted 

trekking  parties  also  moved  north  and  east.  The  in- 
cursions into  Swaziland  he  stimulated  by  subsidy, 
with  the  hope  of  extending  the  Transvaal  to  the 
coast,  and  his  official  map  was  printed  with  Swazi- 
land and  Matibililand  in  the  Transvaal  yellow.  But 
this  expansion,  in  direct  violation  of  his  pledges,  was 
abruptly  checked. 

An  expedition  under  Sir  Charles  Warren  moved 
into  Bechuanaland  at  the  long-standing  request  for 
protection  by  Khama,  chief  of  the  Bamangwato  and 
the  living  ref utal  of  the  charge  that  no  African  can 
lead  a  consistent  Christian  life  mid  the  scenes  of 
progenital  savagery.  The  Boers  sullenly  withdrew 
over  the  border,  without  fighting.  The  grab  of 
Swaziland,  however,  was  not  prevented,  though  by 
subsequent  treaties  the  territory  on  the  coast  between 
Natal  and  Portuguese  East  Africa  became  British 
dominion,  and  Kruger's  natural  desire  of  a  port  and  a 
navy  for  his  republic  was  thwarted.  His  northward 
trend  was  checked  by  his  arch-enemy,  Mr.  Rhodes, 
who  obtained  a  royal  charter  for  his  British  South 
African  Company  to  administer  and  trade  in  Mati- 
bililand and  Mashonaland,  British  protectorates. 

For  trade  and  the  flag,  might  is  deemed  right,  and 
the  "  white  man's  burden  "  is,  at  the  beginning  at  least, 
a  burden  on  the  black  or  brown  man,  though  event- 
ually for  his  good.  But  those  good  people  who  have 
been  troubled  by  the  vivid  pictures  of  Trooper  Hal- 
kett  may  rest  assured  that  Miss  Schreiner  has  allowed 

31 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

a  political  animosity  by  no  means  shared  by  her  own 
relatives,  to  distend  her  naturally  vivid  imagination 
far  into  the  realms  of  fiction.  The  Company's  war 
was  neither  better  nor  worse  than  the  dozen  native 
wars  of  recent  years.  Fierce  tribes  who  prey  on  their 
more  innocent  neighbors  need  strict  policing  to 
make  them  amenable  to  humanity's  law.  Officers 
of  the  calibre  of  Baden-Powell,  over  whom  the  savage 
levies  of  West  Africa  wept  like  children,  when  part- 
ing, are  not  transformed  into  wild  beasts  in  South 
Africa.  The  British  "  Tommies  "  who  stinted  them- 
selves to  feed  Prempeh's  starving  hags  and  who 
have  shared  bed  and  supper  with  wounded  Boers  do 
not  change  their  hearts  by  a  change  of  coats ; 
Queen's  uniform  or  Company's  uniform  covers  the 
same  men. 

To  know  the  American  officer,  to  know  the  British 
officer,  enables  one  to  give  the  lie  direct  to  stories  of 
their  barbarity,  whether  in  the  Philippines  or  in  Africa. 
I  have  had  unusual  opportunities  of  seeing  savagery 
and  cannibalism  uprooted  by  the  British.  In  every 
instance  it  has  been  effected  without  harshness, 
oppression,  or  undue  interference.  Slavery,  fetich 
ordeals,  human  sacrifice,  and  wanton  killing  are  rigor- 
ously suppressed.  Missionaries  and  traders  are 
assured  protection,  and  both  are  great  civilizing 
factors;  but  after  expenditure  of  blood  and  money, 
amid  vapid  talk  of  covetous  and  aggressive  England, 
restrictions   are   thrown  off,  every  nation  has  equal 

32 


Colonizing  Traits  of  the  British 

trade  rights,  and  in  three  distinct  cases  that  I  per- 
sonally witnessed,  where  the  British  tax-payer  paid 
the  piper,  the  commercial  brightness  of  Americans 
enabled  them  to  secure  the  most  valuable  concessions, 
and  obtain  a  monopoly  of  the  trade  without  a  single 
restriction.  British  colonizing  is  a  benefit  not  only 
to  the  colony,  but  to  the  civilized  world. 


33 


CHAPTER  II 

A  NEW  Era  in  Transvaal  History.  —  The  Uitlanders. 
—  Formation  of  the  National  Union.  — The  Raid 
AND  its  Consequences.  — The  Bloemfontein  Con- 
ference. —  War. 

When  in  England  in  '83,  President  Kruger  and  his 
delegates  ran  short  of  funds.  A  company  had  just 
been  formed  in  London  to  prospect  for  gold  in  the 
Witwatersrand.  The  promoters  of  the  Lisbon-Berlyn 
Goldfields  Ltd.  supplied  the  Boers  with  cash,  in  re- 
turn for  promised  concessions,  and,  ere  they  departed, 
approached  them  to  determine  the  status  of  their 
miners  should  their  auriferous  prognostications  be 
substantiated.  The  delegation  secretary,  Mr.  Ewald 
Esselen,  replied  that  "the  President  was  surprised, 
pained,  and  made  indignant  by  the  inquiry,  since  at 
the  convention  the  rights  of  strangers  were  clearly 
stipulated.  The  South  African  republic  desired  the 
fullest  development  of  its  mineral  resources,  and  it 
would  extend  every  inducement  to  attain  that  end." 

The  Rand  proved  rich  in  gold :  from  the  early 
output  at  Langlaagte  vast  farms  yielded  reefs  of 
untold  wealth.  The  El  Dorado  attracted  thousands 
of  foreigners  and  millions  of  capital  to  develop  the 
mines  that  the  Boers  had  neither  the  intelligence  nor 

34 


Boer  Corruption  Proved 

the  material  to  work  themselves.  Kruger  and  his 
supporters  actively  preached  against  the  influence  of 
the  godless  capitalists  in  their  midst,  but  they  sold 
their  land  with  alacrity  to  prospectors,  at  exorbitant 
figures,  and  by  imposts  and  concessions  strove  to 
divert  a  considerable  portion  of  filthy  lucre  to  their 
own  pockets. 

Mr.  Christian  Joubert,  Minister  of  Mines,  would 
accept  no  proposals  for  exploitation,  without  a  small 
donation,  and  when  matters  had  duly  proceeded  he 
intimated  that  a  hitch  in  Pretoria  might  be  removed 
by  a  further  "  little  present."  Five  thousand  dollars 
in  the  two  instalments  usually  cut  the  Gordian  knot. 
The  books  of  most  companies  projecting  on  the  Rand 
show  varying  sums  paid  at  the  outset  for  the  impera- 
tive bribery  of  these  officials.  Lieutenant  Eloff,  the 
President's  son-in-law,  and  all  Kruger's  pastoral 
relatives  became  smart  concessionnaires,  and  official 
coiTuption,  once  impossible  with  the  simple  burghers, 
flourished  among  other  curses  of  the  gold  glut. 

For  proof  of  corruption  in  the  Transvaal  I  would 
refer  the  interested  reader  to  the  case  now  pending  in 
the  Tribunal  Correctional  of  Belgium.  The  case  has 
been  in  the  courts  since  1895,  and  Dr.  Leyds  probably 
wishes  he  had  compromised  to  avoid  the  exposure  of 
his  colleagues  at  this  juncture.  Baron  Oppenheim, 
the  Parisian  banker,  MM.  Braconier,  Louis  Fr^res, 
Warnant,  and  Terwagne,  a  syndicate  of  prominent 
Franco-Belgian  financiers,   are   ranged   against   the 

35 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Transvaal  Government,  fighting  the  question  of  the 
cost  of  the  Koomati  Poort-Selati  Railroad. 

Among  the  expenditures  to  be  proved  in  court  are 
large  sums  of  money,  gifts  of  carriages,  costly  jewels, 
etc.,  given  to  M.  F.  L.  Eloff,  the  President's  son- 
in-law  and  private  secretary.  The  late  M.  N.  J. 
Smit,  one  time  Vice-President,  M.  E.  Bok,  Secretary 
to  the  Executive,  M.  C.  Van  Boeschoten,  Secretary 
of  the  Volksraad,  M.  B.  H.  Klopper,  President  of  the. 
High  Chamber,  and  twenty -two  out  of  twenty-four 
members,  besides  the  Vice-President,  —  Du  Plessis, 
De  Beer,  Burger,  Bezuidenhuit,  Van  der  Merwe 
Stoop,  Wolmarans  (the  vaunted  Franklin  of  the 
Transvaal,  now  in  the  United  States  seeking  inter- 
vention), Nalan,  Prinsloo,  Spies,  Mar^,  Van  Harpen, 
Steenkamp,  Lombard, Grobler,  De  la  Ray,Taljaard,Van 
Zuyl,  Botha,  Beukes,  Van  Staaden,  and  Grey  ling,  — 
these  are  the  bribe  takers  who  wring  their  hands  over  a 
"  War  of  Capital  against  Liberty,"  and  for  whom  the 
brave  if  ignorant  burghers  are  pouring  out  their  blood 
to-day. 

By  Article  Fourteen  of  the  last  convention  the 
British  Government  clearly  stipulated  the  civil  and 
commercial  rights  of  all  foreigners.  Any  one  with 
intelligent  knowledge  of  the  Transvaal  will  admit 
that  the  republic  has  gone  far  outside  its  agree- 
ment. The  official  reports  will  show  you  the  promise 
of  equal  burgher  rights  made  by  Mr.  Kruger  to  Sir 
Evelyn  Wood  and  Sir  Hercules  Robinson.     In  1882 

36 


Apanthropy  of  the  Boer 

a  foreigner  could  obtain  full  franchise  rights  after 
five  years'  residence.  In  1886  the  influx  of  thousands 
of  strangers  attracted  by  the  gold  rush  led  the  Yolks- 
raad  to  restrict  the  franchise,  and  in  1890  the  term  of 
residence  was  raised  to  fifteen  years,  with  additional 
manipulative  clauses  by  which  the  electoral  right 
could  be  controlled.  By  a  further  amendment,  four 
years  later,  full  burgher  rights  were  made  practically 
impossible  for  the  settlers,  who  now  paid  ninety-five 
per  cent  of  the  Transvaal  revenues,  o^Tied  nine- 
tenths  of  the  valuation  of  property,  but  had  no  voice 
in  disbursement  or  administration. 

The  only  excuse  for  the  ruling  of  a  majority  by  the 
votes  of  a  minority  in  a  so-called  republic,  from  the 
Boer  standpoint,  was  their  natural  fear  that  the  for- 
eign element  would  eventually  control,  and  the  an- 
tipathy felt  by  the  ignorant  for  those  enjoying  the 
initiative  of  greater  intellectuality.  The  Boer  is  a 
born  apanthrope,  and  an  aversion  to  the  trammels  of 
advance  and  commerce  doubtlessly  actuated  the  more 
ignorant  farmers  to  support  measures  that  would  re- 
strict the  invasion  of  their  domain.  The  Hollander 
officials  were  moved  by  a  different  motive. 

Careful  inquiry  into  the  Uitlander  grievances 
shows  that  the  franchise  question  was  mooted  only 
with  the  hope  of  securing  an  amelioration  of  their 
conditions  by  legislation.  Early  leaders  in  the  move- 
ment were  neither  financiers  nor  men  of  wealth,  but 
the  engineers  and  artisans  upon  whom  the  maladmin- 

37 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

istration  and  taxation  weighed  heavily.  Until  I 
visited  South  Africa,  I  sympathized  with  the  Boer 
desire  to  keep  the  government  in  their  own  hands ; 
superficial  investigation  there  revealed  such  a  mass 
of  corruption  in  the  Kruger  Cabinet,  that  all  trace 
of  sympathy  vanished. 

The  iniquitous  native-liquor  traffic  of  the  Transvaal 
is  controlled  by  concessionnaires  of  Kruger;  the 
traffickers  did  not  hesitate  to  murder  that  gentle 
English  lady,  Mrs.  Appleby,  because,  in  spite  of 
warnings,  her  missionary  husband  continued  to 
direct  a  crusade  against  their  abominations  that 
demoralize  the  blacks,  and  which  are  prohibited  in 
the  British  colonies.  There  is  little  doubt  that  the 
instigators  of  that  fiendish  crime  are  known  to  the 
sycophant  police.  The  exclusive  concession  given 
the  Netherlands  Railway  Company  proves  restrictive 
to  commerce;  the  service  is  execrable,  its  charges 
exorbitant.  The  Lippert  Dynamite  concession  places 
this  explosive,  so  necessary  for  mining,  in  the  hands 
of  a  monopoly  that  supplies  an  inferior  quality  at 
extravagant  rates.  Besides  the  Hatherley  Distillery, 
concessions  controlling  the  manufacture  of  articles, 
from  powder  and  cement  to  the  smallest  necessaries 
of  life,  are  held  by  Kruger's  relatives  or  given  as 
plums  to  political  supporters. 

11,250,000  per  annum  is  ostensibly  expended 
from  the  excessive  taxation  for  popular  education. 
Yet  the  English  language  is  proscribed  in  the  schools, 

38 


From  Penury  to  Affluence 

which  are  mainly  sustained  by  English-speaking 
people  and  attended  by  their  children.  The  treasury 
of  the  Transvaal  held  but  12  shillings  ($3.00)  in 
1877;  by  the  industry  and  intelligence  of  the  Uit- 
landers  the  revenue  amounted  to  £3,983,560  in  1898. 
In  return  they  are  denied  common  civil  rights  by  the 
open  policy  of  Kruger,  who  follows  with  striking 
minuteness  the  restrictive  methods  of  Tacon  in  Cuba, 
— the  control  by  a  favored  minority. 

The  increasing  burdens  of  taxation,  the  proscrip- 
tions of  the  English  tongue,  the  lack  of  municipal 
improvements,  sanitation,  and  police  protection  led 
the  masses  of  hard-working  immigrants  of  the  Rand, 
who  had  turned  Johannesburg  from  a  dirty  village 
into  a  well-built  city,  to  form  the  National  Union  in 
1892,  to  gain  reforms.  Thirty-eight  thousand  non- 
enfranchised  residents,  professional  men,  traders, 
clerks,  engineers,  and  artisans,  of  all  nationalities, 
chiefly  British  subjects  and  Americans,  drew  up  a 
petition,  begging  for  relief  from  their  grievances. 
The  Volksraad  rejected  it  with  scorn. 

The  capitalists  and  mine-owners,  conjured  into  a 
bogie  by  Boer  and  pro-Boer,  fearing  agitation  would 
affect  the  market,  discountenanced  the  reform  move- 
ment, and  many  of  the  leaders,  including  Mr.  Phillips, 
were  discharged  from  British  companies  for  identify- 
ing themselves  with  the  Union.  "Business  must 
stand  before  sentiment,"  was  the  plea  of  the  financial 
magnates.     Persons  who  should  know  better,  urge  to 

39 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

this  day  that  the  war  is  the  fault  of  these  godless 
capitalists,  —  the  men  who  did  most  to  avert  it  in  the 
early  stages  of  the  trouble. 

In  1895  a  second  petition  was  presented  to  Kruger 
in  person,  asking  for:    Representative  constitution 

—  Equitable  franchise  laws  —  Equality  of  the  Dutch 
and  English  languages  as  in  the  British  Colonies  — 
Responsibility  to  the  Legislature  of  the  heads  of  all 
departments — Independence  of  the  Courts  of  Justice 

—  Liberal  educational  laws  —  Efficient  Civil  Service 

—  Free  trade  in  the  products  of  the  republic  (no- 
tably food  stuffs).  The  President  invited  the  reform 
leaders  to  call  upon  him,  and  after  listening  with 
impatience  to  their  grievances,  he  burst  forth,  "  Go  ! 
Tell  your  people  I  will  give  them  nothing,  never 
alter  my  policy !  Go,  and  let  the  storm  burst !  "  A 
bitter  cry  against  the  apathy  of  the  financiers  now 
was  raised:  the  mine-owners  and  capitalists  were 
forced  to  declare  themselves ;  and  with  slight  hesita- 
tion they  took  sides  with  their  employees  the  re- 
formers.    This  is  the  capitalist  bogie. 

Finding  pacific  representation  futile,  denied  the 
right  of  public  meeting,  and  the  public  use  of  the 
English  tongue,  free  press  and  free  speech  proscribed, 
the  Uitlanders  now  resolved  to  gain  their  ends  by  a 
coup  de  main.  Arms  were  secretly  distributed ; 
Johannesburg  was  to  be  seized  by  a  general  rising, 
Pretoria  possibly  captured,  and  a  call  made  for  a  ple- 
biscite  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Transvaal  to  found 

40 


Taxation  Without  Representation 

a  popular  government.  The  independence  of  the 
republic  was  not  menaced;  the  movement  was  to 
forcibly  secure,  first  municipal  reforms,  then  equal 
rights.  Opposition  to  taxation  without  representa- 
tion and  to  oppressive  tea  trusts  was  the  foundation 
of  American  Independence.  Opposition  to  taxation 
without  representation  and  to  oppressive  monopolies 
provoked  the  Uitlanders  to  contemplate  a  rising. 
Had  it  succeeded,  the  leader  of  the  movement  would 
have  been  the  true  Washington  of  the  South  African 
republics. 

The  fiasco  of  the  Jameson  raid  played  directly  into 
Kruger's  hands.  It  is  charged,  but  without  proof, 
that  the  Boer  President  was  privy  to  the  entire  move- 
ment, and  precipitated  the  raid  for  his  own  ends. 
That  he  knew  of  the  projected  rising  is  certain; 
With  the  Doctor  and  his  raiders  as  hostages,  the 
Boers  were  able  to  secure  the  entire  disarmament  of 
the  Uitlanders,  reap  a  rich  harvest  in  fines,  and  pose 
before  the  world  as  a  monument  of  magnanimity  and 
Christian  resignation. 

I  travelled  a  thousand  miles  with  many  of  the 
raiders  en  route  to  England,  and  found  that  officers 
and  men  held  the  impression  that  the  Uitlander  ris- 
ing had  taken  place,  and  that  they  were  riding  to 
save  women  and  children  from  the  horrors  of  civil 
strife.  The  mystery  of  the  raid  will  never  be 
known  ;  Mr.  Rhodes  and  Dr.  Jameson  for  their  own 
ends    had    pledged    their    support    to    the    Reform 

41 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

League,  but  the  border  was  crossed  under  an  entire 
misapprehension. 

This  abortive  attempt  to  gain  reform  strengthened 
the  Boer  position  and  tied  the  hands  of  the  Colonial 
Office.  A  storm  of  foreign  criticism  was  stirred  up, 
but  it  was  surprising  to  find  so  great  condemnation 
of  the  reform  movement  by  Americans,  who  are 
justly  proud  of  their  forefathers,  "  who  adjudged 
might  less  than  right  when  a  king  laid  a  pitiful  tax 
on  them,"  and  who  fought  the  military  despotism  of 
Santa  Ana  for  the  rights  of  their  own  Uitlanders  in 
Texas,  adding  another  star  to  the  flag  thereby. 

Despite  the  raid  it  was  impossible  that  the  con- 
ditions in  the  Transvaal  could  long  remain  with- 
out imperial  interference.  Mr.  Gladstone's  reason 
for  practical  surrender  to  rebels  in  '81  was  to  free 
ourselves  from  the  predicament  of  coercing  the  free 
subjects  of  a  republic  to  accept  a  citizenship  which 
they  decline  and  refuse.  That  this  oligarchy,  mis- 
nomered  republic,  should  eventually  control,  by  a 
sixteenth-century  civilization,  a  community  which 
in  1890  numbered  80,000,  a  large  proportion  British 
subjects,  was  an  intolerable  condition. 

The  story  of  the  conflagration  you  know.  You 
have  heard  the  thunderings  of  wiseacres  who 
seemingly  are  endowed  with  a  prescience  that  con- 
stitutes them  greater  authorities  than  those  di- 
rectly concerned  on  either  side.  Opinions  and 
facts  are   frequently  in   antithesis,   and  we   are   all 

42 


Public  Meeting  Proscribed 

apt  to  mistake  the  one  for  the  other.  The  posses- 
sion of  a  facile  pen  does  not  constitute  one  the 
supreme  arbiter  of  a  national  question.  He  who 
reads  the  Boer  Green-Book  and  the  British  Blue- 
Books  and  the  statements  of  those  intimately  con- 
cerned in  the  imbroglio,  will  form  a  deduction 
that  ridicules  the  effusions  that  have  fogged  the 
public  mind  with  extreme  opinions  pro-Boer  and 
pro-British. 

On  January  14,  1899,  a  mass  meeting  of  Uit- 
landers  for  the  discussion  of  municipal  evils  was 
roughl}?-  dispersed  by  a  commando  of  armed  Boers, 
several  Englishmen  and  at  least  ten  Americans  be- 
ing severely  beaten,  and  Uitlander  women  grossly 
insulted.  Thenceforth,  despite  the  spies  of  Kru- 
ger's  "reptile"  fund,  secret  gatherings  were  held 
throughout  the  Rand,  and  the  Uitlanders  in  their 
thousands  formulated  a  petition  to  Queen  Vic- 
toria, praying  for  relief  from  their  conditions  in  the 
Transvaal. 

Such  an  appeal  from  citizens  of  the  United 
States  or  subjects  of  any  representative  govern- 
ment could  not  be  ignored.  Read  the  list  of  sig- 
natories, —  they  are  not  capitalists.  Ask  them 
about  their  grievances.  Converse  with  American 
Uitlanders,  who  at  least  cannot  be  charged  with 
desiring  the  overthrow  of  a  republic  for  a  mon- 
archy. Here  also  are  Danes,  and  some  intelligent 
Cape  Dutch,   too.     These  are   not  the   men  to   in- 

43 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

cite  war  for  a  phantasm  or  to  agitate,  at  the  risk  of 
their  positions,  against  political  evils  short  of  op- 
pression; neither  are  they  the  ty^e  myrmidon  to 
capitalists  and  self-seeking  promoters.  To  those 
40,000  men,  war  meant  ruin,  loss  of  property,  and 
cessation  of  industry.  Would  they  seek  this  without 
good  and  sufficient  cause?  Buttonhole  the  intelli- 
gent Irishman  from  the  Rand.  He  hates  England 
and  the  English,  but  he  speaks  with  fine  scorn  of 
the  Kruger  government,  and  would  sooner  enlist 
as  a  Queen's  "  Tommy  "  than  be  colonel  of  Blake's 
sans-culottic  brigade. 

I  have  talked  with  all  these;  there  are  men 
among  them  who,  for  the  sake  of  political  prin- 
ciple, have  lost  the  entire  proceeds  of  ten  years' 
toil;  their  wives  and  children  are  facing  abject 
poverty  by  their  side.  These  earnest  fellows  will 
soon  convince  you  of  the  justice  of  the  Uitlander 
cause.  It  will  not  blind  you  to  the  fact  that 
capitalists  and  imperialists  have  attempted  to 
make  Uitlander  necessity  their  opportunity  —  the 
raid  tells  you  that.^  But  a  wise  President  or  a 
true  republic  would  have  disarmed  their  action 
by  liberal  concession.  The  popular  voice  in  the 
South  African  colonies  and  at  home  would  have 
averted  aggression.      Dr.   Leyds    and    others    now 

1  Mr.  Bryce,  writing  of  the  raid,  says  :  "  So  many  non-legal  things 
have  been  done  in  a  high-handed  way,  and  so  many  raids  into  native 
territory  made  by  the  Boers  themselves,  that  the  respect  for  legal- 
ity ..  .  was  imperfectly  developed  "  (among  the  plotting  Uitlanders). 

4i 


Uitlanders  who  Disclaim  Oppression 

contend  that  the  Uitlanders  did  not  desire  fran- 
chise, and  that  "the  bulk  were  on  the  side  of  the 
republic."  It  is  rather  remarkable,  then,  that  Mr. 
Kruger  did  not  strengthen  his  hands  by  a  liberal 
franchise,  and  thus  thwart  the  intervention  that 
he  claims  was  "prompted  by  the  greed  of  a  gang 
of  capitalists." 

There  were  Uitlanders  who  would  disclaim  op- 
pression: some  have  entered  the  Boer  service  un- 
der the  terms  of  full  and  immediate  naturalization 
and  high  bounty,  others  have  flocked  to  the  col- 
onies to  live  on  public  charity  and  wring  their 
hands  over  the  "  cruel "  war.  They  are  Jew  ped- 
dlers or  Hungarians,  Huns,  Scandinavians,^  Bavarians, 
- — mine-workers,  —  the  submerged  tenth  in  their 
own  countries.  They  could  earn  wages  on  the 
Rand  beyond  their  dreams  of  avarice.  Johannes- 
burg was  their  Manoa,  and  little  they  recked 
municipal  restrictions,  foul  water,  or  bad  drains. 
An  American  gentlemen  from  Pretoria  told  me 
that  ninety  per  cent  of  the  Uitlanders  who  en- 
tered the  Boer  service  had  not  the  money  to  leave 
the  country. 

Sir  Alfred  Milner,  whose  parentage  and  knowledge 
of  Dutch  so  eminently  fitted  him  for  the  difficult  post 
he  was  called  upon  to  fill,  mixed  for  weeks  with  the 
ultra  Dutch  party.  The  loyalists  frowned,  but  he 
was  learning  the  other  side  before  action.  Then  he 
supplemented  the  Uitlanders'  petition  with  a  despatch 

45 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

on  May  4,  1899,  that  revealed  such  a  crisis  in  South 
African  affairs  that  his  recall  would  have  been  cer- 
tain if  the  message  had  not  been  borne  out  by  facts. 

The  assertion  that  the  British  Government  coveted 
the  possession  of  the  Transvaal  is  negatived  by  the 
utterances  of  prominent  men  who  were  desirous 
above  all  things  to  maintain  peace.  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain, charged  with  inciting  the  raid,  and  intent  on 
war,  said  in  his  reply  to  Sir  Ashmead  Bartlett:  "A 
war  in  South  Africa  would  be  the  most  serious  that 
could  be  waged.  It  would  be  in  the  nature  of  a  civil 
war.  To  go  to  war  with  President  Kruger  in  order 
to  force  upon  him  the  reforms  .  .  .  would  be  a 
course  of  action  as  immoral  as  it  is  unwise."  A  few 
weeks  later  he  stated  to  the  House  that  it  was  "  im- 
possible to  expect  the  President  to  adopt  a  wholesale 
franchise  that  would  proceed  to  his  own  extinction." 
These  are  not  the  utterances  of  a  man  anxious  to  pro- 
voke war. 

When  the  Bloemfontein  Conference  was  arranged 
Sir  Alfred  Milner  presented  Mr.  Chamberlain's  de- 
spatch to  President  Kruger.  As  we  read  the  views 
of  his  political  opponents  and  of  antagonistic  busy- 
bodies,  the  Colonial  Secretary's  diplomacy  assumes 
an  intricacy  as  confusing  as  it  is  incorrect.  In  the 
official  reports,  we  find  involved  demands,  and  replies 
that  were  received  with  a  suspicion  which  was  not 
unnatural,  since  the  aged  President's  pen  was  guided 
by  the  hard-working  but  narrow-minded  Dr.  Reitz, 

46 


A  Fair  Franchise  Demanded 

aided  by  the  two  inexperienced  youthful  hotheads, 
Smuts,  State  Attorney,  and  Grobler,  the  Minister  of 
Foreign  Affairs.  But  in  the  main  the  British  claims 
were  not  exorbitant. 

Realizing  that  by  dealing  with  specific  grievances, 
the  concatenation  of  the  Judiciary  and  Volksraad,  the 
corruption  and  bribery  of  the  civil  service,  and  mat- 
ters relative  to  municipal  and  political  rights  (all  of 
which  constituted  the  internal  policy  of  the  Trans- 
vaal), difficulties  must  arise,  the  High  Commissioner 
was  instructed  to  suggest  that  a  simplification  of  the 
franchise  would  constitute  a  remedy  and  prove  a 
palladium  for  the  Uitlanders.  Overwhelming  enfran- 
chisement was  not  asked,  but  the  extension  of  suf- 
frage, that  the  Uitlanders,  who  outnumbered  the 
Boers,  might  return  representatives  for  one-fourth  of 
the  first  Volksraad,  and  thus  have  an  opportunity  to 
air  and  obtain  legislation  of  their  grievances. 

Dr.  Leyds  has  since  stated  that  President  Kruger 
never  intended  to  grant  any  franchise  privileges  ;  cer- 
tainly the  concessions  he  made  were  coupled  with 
irrelevant  conditions  that  necessarily  aroused  the 
suspicion  of  crafty  British  diplomats.  Possibly  Mr. 
Chamberlain  should  have  accepted  every  assurance  of 
Mr.  Kruger  in  absolute  good  faith,  and  equally,  then, 
the  Boer  President  should  have  placed  implicit  trust 
in  the  motives  of  the  Colonial  Secretary.  But  simple 
faith,  if  better  than  Norman  blood,  is  beyond  the  ken 
of  diplomacy.     War  was  directly  due  to  the  recipro- 

47 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

cal  distrust  of  the  belligerent  parties  —  a  distrust 
greatly  exaggerated  on  both  sides. 

It  is  not  for  me  to  defend  the  diplomacy  of  Mr. 
Chamberlain.  But  the  official  despatches  will  show 
you  that  the  erraticalness  of  his  despatches  did  not 
exceed  the  incontiguity  of  the  Transvaal  replies. 
President  Kruger's  obdurate  insistence  on  the  non- 
retroactive clause  in  his  first  franchise  concession,  so 
that  a  full  franchise  period  must  elapse  before  reform 
would  be  effected,  manifested  the  spirit  dominating 
his  negotiations.  Coupled  with  the  final  concession 
by  the  Transvaal  were  three  conditions,  two  of  which 
Mr.  Chamberlain  accepted ;  the  third  was  of  a  char- 
acter  that  no  Power  would  entertain  in  its  dealings 
with  another.  The  vague  wording  of  the  British 
reply  would  admit  doubts  as  to  the  character  of  the 
"  further  note "  to  be  broached,  but  had  the  "  war- 
hating"  President  shown  either  patience  or  forbear- 
ance he  would  have  found  that  the  new  conditions 
were  practically  the  acceptance  of  nine-tenths  of  his 
terms,  with  reservations  that  might  have  been  ami- 
cably arranged. 

The  legal  adviser  of  the  Transvaal,  Mr.  Farrelly, 
whose  interpretation  of  international  law  guided  the 
President,  strongly  disapproved  of  the  Boer  attitude 
from  the  outset.  In  the  official  memorandum  that  he 
prepared  on  the  conference  he  protested  against  the 
procedure  that  ''  unjustifiably  risks  the  lives  and  for- 
tunes of  the  burghers ;  "  and  he  desired  to  place  on 

i8 


Alarm  in  the  Colonies 

record  "  my  strong  dissent  from  the  tone  and  temper 
of  our  negotiations  with  the  British  government.  If 
it  is  the  steadfast  intention  of  the  Republic  to  precip- 
itate war,  a  more  direct  course  could  not  have  been 
undertaken." 

With  the  Transvaal  an  armed  camp  on  the  unpro- 
tected borders  of  a  British  colony,  colonists  lived  in 
constant  and  not .  unwarrantable  dread  of  Boer  ag- 
gression. On  May  25th  the  Natal  Legislature  asked 
the  imperial  government  for  protective  measures  but 
the  Colonial  Office  denied  the  need  of  troops  to  guard 
the  frontier.  On  June  12th  the  mayors  of  Kimberley 
and  Mafeking  telegraphed  the  Prime  Minister  of 
Cape  Colony,  asking  for  protection,  as  the  Boers 
threatened  hostilities.  But  Mr.  Schreiner  scouted 
the  idea  of  war.  On  July  26th  the  Governor  cabled 
to  London  that  the  Natal  Ministry  anxiously  re- 
quested attention  to  their  unprotected  colony ;  but 
rather  than  excite  the  Transvaal  Executive,  the  mes- 
sage was  shelved  for  further  development  by  Mr. 
Chamberlain,  who  is  now  charged  with  being  intent 
on  war.  On  September  2d  the  Governor  of  Natal 
on  behalf  of  the  colonists  cabled  the  Colonial  Secre- 
tary that  the  Boers  massed  on  the  borders  were  mak- 
ing open  threats  of  invasion,  and  again  begged  for 
reinforcements  to  guard  the  northern  portion  of  the 
colony. 

Then  and  not  until  then  were  troops  sent,  and 
their  tardy  despatch,  the  ostensible  cause  of  the 
4  49 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

war,  was  too  late  to  prevent  the  sacking  of  half  of 
Natal  and  of  much  territory  in  Cape  Colony.  The 
drafting  of  Sir  George  White's  command,  a  tenth  of 
the  armed  strength  of  the  Transvaal,  was  held  by 
President  Kruger  to  constitute  an  open  threat  of  war, 
and  without  waiting  for  the  tantalizingly  delayed 
reply  that  Mr.  Chamberlain  was  formulating,  he 
launched  an  ultimatum  that  could  have  but  one 
outcome. 

While  England  would  not  have  tolerated  an  in- 
definite prolongation  of  the  Transvaal  policy,  and  a 
refusal  of  reform  would  have  certainly  provoked 
armed  intervention,  considerable  patience  had  been 
manifested.  The  contention  that  the  country  would 
think  of  undertaking  a  war  for  the  sake  of  gold 
mines  which  were  already  the  property  of  individuals 
of  several  nationalities,  and  whose  output,  even  under 
a  heavy  tax,  would  be  exhausted  ere  a  tenth  of  the 
cost  of  the  war  could  be  extracted,  is  too  ridiculous 
to  need  comment,  and  the  lack  of  British  prepara- 
tion is  the  strongest  argument  against  the  charge  of 
aggression. 

Read  history!  Mr.  Gladstone  had  expected  that 
the  Boers  would  appreciate  the  generosity  of  the 
retrocession  of  '81  and  the  unprecedented  humanity 
which  was  willing  to  forego  vengeance  for  the  tar- 
nished lustre  of  British  arms.  Jubilant  over  their 
easy  victories,  the  Boers  have  seen  neither  generosity 
nor  humanity  in  this  noble  peace.     Not  realizing  the 

50 


Conciliation 

force  that  could  have  been  sent  to  overwhelm  them, 
they  added  bitter  contempt  to  their  previous  hatred 
for  the  English.  They  mistook  magnanimity  for 
fear.  The  Premier  was  later  to  hear  of  Joubert's 
efforts  to  induce  Lobenguela  to  "  wipe  the  stink  of 
the  English  from  the  land."  It  was  not  many 
months  after  his  historical  act  of  clemency,  which  in 
repetition  lost  the  Soudan  and  Gordon,  that  he  was 
obliged  to  send  a  military  expedition  to  force  the 
Boers  to  keep  their  agreement.  Forgiveness  for 
trespass  does  not  seem  a  wise  national  text.  Hosea 
is  right, — 

"Conciliate?  it  jest  means  be  kicked, 

No  metter  how  they  phrase  an'  tone  it ; 
It  means  thet  we  're  to  set  down  licked, 
That  we  're  poor  shots  an'  glad  to  own  it !  " 

The  restriction  of  foreign  treaties  notwithstanding, 
the  alien  ministers  of  the  Transvaal,  notably  Dr. 
Leyds,  have  sustained  a  continuous  series  of  intrigues 
with  foreign  Powers,  —  intrigues  that  menaced 
British  supremacy  in  South  Africa.  Hampered  by 
the  stigma  of  the  Jameson  raid,  all  this  was  suffered 
in  patience.  But  some  issue  was  imminent.  To  the 
last,  peaceful  settlement  was  hoped  for  and  expected. 
Despite  the  ignorance  of  Boer  resources,  and  the 
underrating  of  their  power,  the  significance  of  war 
had  long  been  appreciated  (see  ministerial  speeches), 
and  if  the  Government  was  determined  on  war  can  it 
for  a  moment  be  supposed  that  such  a  handful  of  men 

51 


In  South  Africa  with  Duller 

would  have  been  held  at  the  Cape  in  the  face  of  con- 
tinual Transvaal  menace  ? 

Talk  to  the  sturdy  Natal  farmer,  the  true  type  of 
Afrikander,  but  one  who  scouts  the  appellation  as 
hiding  the  Cape  Boer.  He  has  been  born  and  bred 
among  the  Boers :  in  his  earlier  years  he  witnessed 
what  he  calls  the  national  humiliation  of  the  Pre- 
toria convention ;  he  has  seen  and  endured  the  slurs 
and  contempt  engendered  by  Mr.  Gladstone's  sur- 
render. With  his  goods  looted,  his  life  work  de- 
stroyed, he  says  not,  "  Why  did  Chamberlain  and 
Rhodes  force  this  war  ? "  but  rather,  "  Why  did  not 
England  prepare  for  the  inevitable  months  and 
years  ago  ?  " 

I  would  sooner  abide  by  the  judgment  of  those 
men,  who  at  least  have  as  much  right  in  South  Africa 
as  the  Boers,  than  by  that  of  the  Chamberlains,  Rhodes, 
Steads,  and  Morleys,  or  the  many  very  ignorant, 
clever  persons  who  have  written  opinions  on  the 
South  African  question  and  have  done  much  to  mis- 
direct American  opinion. 

Nature  has  given  the  Transvaal  impregnable  de- 
fences on  the  borders.  Even  supposing,  from  British 
bluster,  that  war  was  inevitable,  President  Kruger, 
professed  Christian  and  lover  of  peace,  if  so  pro- 
foundly anxious  to  avert  bloodshed,  might  have 
massed  his  burghers  on  the  impregnable  passes  lead- 
ing into  his  country  and  proved  to  the  world  that  his 
motto  was  defence  rather  than  defiance.     Had  Eng- 

52 


A  Question  of  Taxation 

land  declared  war,  his  claim  of  safeguarding  his 
independence  would  then  have  demanded  the  sym- 
pathy of  all  free  men.  But  on  the  mere  supposition 
that  war  was  intended,  he  made  it  inevitable.  He 
invoked  the  aid  of  the  God  of  battles  in  preserving 
his  country,  and  threw  his  burghers  to  loot  and 
plunder  across  the  frontier. 

Taxation  in  Switzerland  is  $5  per  capita.  In  Eng- 
land it  is  115.  On  the  Rand  it  is  |110.  There  is  no 
specific  fault,  however,  in  the  extraction  of  a  high 
revenue  from  a  highly  waged  community,  or  in  the 
levy  on  the  Rand  gold  mines,  which  in  1897  contrib- 
uted $6,100  more  to  the  Transvaal  revenue  than 
in  dividends ;  paying  only  in  one  year  (1888) 
slightly  more  to  their  shareholders  than  to  the  Boer 
Government,  though  the  great  steel,  sugar,  and  oil 
combines  in  America  would  speedily  contest  similar 
financial  legislation.  But  the  entire  aspect  of  the 
case  is  altered  by  the  corruption,  maladministration, 
and  lack  of  representation  that  prevailed  in  the 
Transvaal.  Grant  against  the  British  Government, 
if  you  insist,  either  the  charge  of  criminality  in  its 
lust  for  the  said  gold  mines,  or  its  idiocy  in  the  con- 
duct of  its  negotiations,  —  you  cannot  obscure  the 
Uitlanders'  wrongs  by  these  extraneous  issues. 

I  close  my  chapter  with  the  words  of  the  United 
States  representative  at  the  International  Peace 
Conference,  Captain  Mahan,  whose  Americanism,  I 
take  it,  is  unquestionable,  and  who  has  had  oppoi^ 

53 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

tunities  for  judging  the  case  impartially  and  on  its 
merits ;  "  Persons  who  will  look  carefully  into  this 
matter  will  find  that  the  Boers  doubtless  are,  in  their 
own  opinion,  fighting  to  preserve  their  own  liberty, 
but  they  have  been  brought  into  this  dilemma  be- 
cause national  liberty  was  in  Mr.  Kruger's  mind 
inseparably  associated  with  the  right  of  a  dominant 
minority,  sole  possessors  of  political  power,  —  in  other 
words,  an  oligarchy,  —  to  oppress  a  majority,  to  tax  it 
heavily,  and  to  refuse  it  representation.  The  cause 
of  the  Uitlanders  is  in  principle  identical  with  that  of 
the  American  Revolutionists." 


54 


CHAPTER  III 

Underlying  Causes  of  the  War.  —  Afrikanderism.  — 
Plausible  Arguments  for  an  Afrikander  Republic 
OF  South  Africa.  —  Annual  Expenditure  for  Arms 
FROM  1889.  —  The  Shadows  of  War.  —  Opening  of 
Hostilities. 

In  1881  a  certain  statesman  erected  an  apparently 
staple  peace  in  South  Africa.  The  storm  and  the 
floods  of  the  Uitlander  agitation  descended  and  swept 
it  away,  and  great  was  the  fall  thereof;  for  the  foun- 
dation rested  on  the  seething  sands  of  Afrikanderism. 
The  superficial  causes  of  the  war,  developed  at 
Bloemfontein,  seemed  trivial  indeed,  but  a  small  ful- 
crum may  accomplish  much  with  a  big  lever.  One 
must  probe  beneath  the  surface  to  find  the  great 
undermining  cause  that  overthrew  the  peace  of  South 
Africa. 

Until  the  development  of  the  Witwatersrand  mines 
swelled  the  Transvaal  revenue  ten-thousand-fold, 
Pretoria  was  a  sleepy  hamlet,  the  Capitol  or  Raad- 
zaal  was  a  thatched  barn,  floored  with  mixed  clay  and 
cowdung  and  furnished  with  rough-hewn  benches. 
The  stores  were  shanties  stocked  with  pothats,  Man- 
chester and  Brummagem  "Kaffir  truck,'*  and  the 
institutions  of  the  pastoral  dorp  simmered  in  primi- 
tive  simplicity.      But  as   Uitlander    capital    trans- 

55 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

formed  the  village  of  Johannesburg  into  a  modern 
city,  the  commercial  relationship  fostered  by  traders 
like  Beckett  and  Bourke  and  the  proceeds  of  fat 
concessions  that  awoke  new  possibilities  to  the 
simple  Pretorians  transformed  the  capital  into  a 
prosperous  city.  A  handsome  Volksraadzaal  was 
constructed  for  the  government  offices,  though  the 
lands-vaderen  did  not  include  the  Bureau  of  Tele- 
graphs in  the  building,  in  consideration  of  the 
conscience  of  the  older  burghers,  who  deem  such 
improvements  the  devil's  magic.  The  erection  of  a 
stone  Nederduitsch  Hervormde  church  superseded 
Prinsloo's  Wonderboom  as  the  Pretorians'  wonder  of 
the  world,  and  caused  many  of  the  Doppers  to  vio- 
late the  tenth  commandment. 

But,  though  villas  that  would  grace  Boston's  Back 
Bay  sprang  up  in  the  capital,  and  Johannesburg, 
with  a  cosmopolitan  population  that  comprised  every 
nationality  under  the  sun,  rose  a  blended  Savannah, 
San  Francisco,  and  Wall  St.  district,  the  lethargic 
Boers  tended  farm  as  of  old,  and  left  the  Philistines 
severely  alone.  Some  of  the  younger  men,  tempted 
by  the  devil  in  the  guise  of  Thespis,  occasionally 
happened  into  the  theatre,  during  periodic  visits  to 
the  great  Babylon  that  had  sprung  up  in  their  midst, 
risking  thereby  the  public  denunciation  of  the  predi- 
Jcant  and  elders  in  their  dorp,  and  possibly  a  perma- 
nent shortening  of  their  inamorata's  candle.  But  in 
the  main  the  development  of  the  Rand  concerned  the 

56 


Characteristics  of  the  Afrikander 

burghers  little  beyond  the  greatly  increased  market 
for  their  products  and  the  marvellous  winkles^  after 
Wanamaker,  that  now  tempted  the  vrouws  with 
stocks  of  fearful  finery,  for  the  "purple  and  fine 
linen  "  of  the  Boer  Sabbath. 

The  ideal  of  the  average  Boer  is  patriarchal  —  to 
dwell  on  a  vast  farm  with  his  wife,  and  his  herd, 
and  his  sons,  his  sons'  wives,  and  sons'  herds.  His 
style  is  simple;  constant  dealings  with  the  natives 
have  taught  him  subtlety,  and  the  frightful  environ- 
ment of  his  early  life  has  developed  the  sturdy  and 
admirable  side  of  his  very  unlovable  character.  De- 
spite the  Scriptural  admonitions  for  the  good  treat- 
ment of  the  stranger,  all  travellers  are  "townsfolk," 
therefore  verneuTcers^  swindlers,  to  be  avoided,  or  if 
possible  misdirected.  The  Boer  is  supremely  happy 
if  he  can  successfully  send  you  north  when  your 
desire  is  to  go  west,  though  if  you  can  induce  his 
hospitality,  you  become  "nephew,"  brave  the  embar- 
rassing criticism  of  your  aunt,  and  perhaps  some 
equally  frank  cousins,  and  spend  a  night  of  misery 
in  the  fetid  general  room. 

In  speaking  of  the  limitations  of  the  Boer,  I  have 
in  mind  the  average  South  African  Dutchman.  One 
retrocedes  in  judgment  with  the  journey  northward, 
the  progressive  and  purer  Holland  type  at  the  Cape, 
worthy  of  the  progenital  Netherlanders,  the  sturdy 
"  beggars  of  the  sea  "  who  emerged  from  the  "  Span- 
ish  fury  "  to  sustain  the  heroic  struggle  ended  by 

57 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

the  Peace  of  Westphalia,  merging  gradually  but  dis- 
tinctly through  the  average  type,  the  Free  Stater, 
into  the  extreme  type  of  the  far  Zoutpansberg.  Civ- 
ilization may  frequently  be  judged  by  milestones. 

I  am  writing  this  in  the  stiff-backed  chair  of  an 
average  Dutch  farm-house,  with  its  slovenly  vrouu\ 
a  floor  of  hard,  puddled-clay  and  cowdung,  dirt  every- 
where, notably  on  the  doodkist,  the  coffin-cupboard 
that  mingles  death  and  the  staff  of  life  in  a  Boer 
household.  The  farmer,  a  hard-faced,  bewhiskered 
son  of  the  soil,  and  religious  to  a  fault,  treats  his 
blacks  with  less  consideration  than  his  dogs,  hates 
the  English  like  poison,  why,  he  knows  not,  and  is 
exceeding  wrathy  with  the  district  missionary  who, 
he  says,  will  go  on  "beyond,"  to  convert  the  mon- 
keys in  the  forest  when  he  has  done  with  the  Kaffirs. 
He  is  the  type  of  Afrikander  who  sighs  for  Dutch 
South  Africa,  and  who  has  ridden  off  gladly  to  face 
the  despised  British  army,  expecting  an  easy  vic- 
tory. It  is  pitiful  to  realize  that  these  farmers  have 
been  led  to  war,  to  fight,  and  to  die  bravely  and 
bravely  inflict  death,  for  what  in  their  colossal  igno- 
rance they  deem  a  principle. 

The  anniversary  of  the  discovery  of  gold  should 
be  set  apart  for  a  day  of  humiliation  throughout 
South  Africa.  It  has  attracted  to  the  Transvaal 
the  vast  foreign  population  with  their  accompanying 
vices,  and  evolved  the  lust  of  empire  in  the  once 
simple  burgher  government,  attracting  alien  officials 

58 


Why  the  Burgher  Fought 

and  foreign  influences  that  found  easy  prey  in  the 
simple  farmers.  Take  any  Boer  prisoner  —  ask  him 
why  he  fought.  He  will  sullenly  inform  you  that 
the  British  wanted  to  run  his  government,  and  reduce 
him  to  the  level  of  the  black.  "  Since  the  whole  of 
South  Africa  was  Taal  by  Divine  right,  the  time  had 
come  to  expel  the  rooihaatjes.  The  verdomde  Cape 
Afrikanders  were  sad  cowards,  and  had  not  fought, 
but  AUemachter  I  the  Boers  must  win.  Many  sol- 
diers had  been  killed,  and  the  English  army  would 
soon  shreck,  to  be  shot  down  like  Kaffirs  or  vilder- 
heeste.''  Vaderlandshefde  is  strong  in  the  Boer  heart, 
but  he  has  been  led  to  fight  also  for  the  vast  grazing 
farms  that  "could  be  seized  from  the  English  with 
little  danger  to  life  or  limb." 

The  Jonhherrs  of  the  Volksraad  generally  repre- 
sent the  progressive  type  of  burgher;  they  have  not 
precipitated  the  long  contemplated  war  without  care- 
ful survey  of  the  conditions.  A  programme  which 
had  been  studied  throughout  Afrikanderdom  and 
deluded  many  an  intelligent  Bond  member  at  the 
Cape,  had  been  prepared  by  Steyn  and  others,  who 
thought  they  knew  their  England.  The  growth  of 
socialism  and  strikes,  the  increasing  power  of  the 
British  working-man  was  twisted  into  the  contention 
that  the  masses  would  refuse  the  taxation  necessary 
to  prosecute  a  war  in  South  Africa.  Utterances  of 
the  Irish  Nationalists  and  other  rabid  "Little  Eng- 
landers "   showed   that   a   war  would    be   promptly 

59 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

ended  by  a  second  Majuba,  with  conditions  that 
spelt  the  evacuation,  perhaps,  of  Natal  or  to  the  Cape. 

Naturally  the  gold  mines  would  induce  greater 
imperial  effort  than  in  '81,  but  if  a  mere  handful  of 
burghers  without  money,  then  won  victories,  the  ele- 
ments of  success  were  ten-thousand-fold  greater  with 
the  three  hundred  thousand  Afrikanders  who  were 
to  rise  simultaneously  in  the  republics  and  colonies 
and  face  the  British  with  modern  rifles,  the  new- 
fangled but  useful  artillery,  and  unlimited  gold  that 
could  be  mined  and  coined  at  will.  The  British 
government  would  not  dare  remove  soldiers  from 
Ireland,  Egypt,  or  India;  the  French  element  would 
negative  Canadian  action.  Thus  the  force  that  could 
be  sent  out  would  be  easily  outmatched  by  Afri- 
kanders, for  in  '81  thirty  British  fell  for  each 
burgher  wounded. 

German  jealousy,  French  hatred,  —  either  would 
debar  the  employment  of  reserves,  militia,  or  vol- 
unteers on  foreign  service;  besides,  early  reverses 
in  Africa  would  prove  the  end  of  European  tolera- 
tion of  hated  England,  and  a  great  European  alliance 
would  complete  the  humiliation  which  the  Afri- 
kanders had  begun.  The  rottenness  of  royalty  and 
society  had  undermined  the  morale  of  navy  and  army, 
the  ranks  were  filled  with  the  scum  of  the  cities, 
weedy  striplings,  diseased  and  without  stamina  to 
fight.  The  Cabinet  and  the  official  world  was  domi- 
nated by  party  and  personal  jealousy  and  corruption. 

60 


Boer  Tabulation  of  British  Weakness 

The  British  colonies  were  a  drain  rather  than  an  arm 
of  strength ;  many  would  probably  declare  their  inde- 
pendence in  the  day  of  imperial  embarrassment. 

By  copious  extracts  from  writings  and  speeches  of 
cranks  and  alarmists,  statistical  proofs  of  the  decline 
of  British  supremacy  from  current  reviews,  speeches 
of  Irish  agitators  in  New  York,  and  cuttings  from 
the  P^re  DucMne  gutter  rags  of  Paris,  that  reviled 
the  Yankee  deliverer  of  Cuba,  and  now  expended 
their  vile  balderdash  against  jperfide  Albion^  braced 
with  pertinent  texts  of  Philistines,  Naboth's  vine- 
yard, and  Gomorrah,  the  British  Empire  was  proved 
to  be  stable  as  a  house  of  cards.  Mene!  Tekel! 
Peres ! 

It  is  instructive  to  note  that  among  the  revised  quo- 
tations were  selections  from  articles  by  Mr.  Arnold 
White,  and  the  labor  prognostications  of  Mr.  Arnold 
Foster,  who  foretold  and  advised  British  working- 
men  to  take  advantage  of  the  war,  if  it  were  forced, 
by  extensive  strikes ;  but  even  the  Radical  working- 
men,  the  "locofocos,"  proved  loyal,  unwittingly  dis- 
proving the  estimative  faculty  of  the  Boers,  who 
held  them  as  a  great  arm  of  strength. 

The  potwolloping  stemmers  of  the  Transvaal  needed 
no  such  arguments  to  convince  them;  they  had 
"taken  their  pap  with  a  hatchet,"  and  were  with- 
out fear  or  reason,  but  even  the  most  enlightened 
Free  Staters  were  misled  by  the  easy  possibilities  of 
the  zelfstandigheid  of  South  Africa.    We  have  it  on  the 

61 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

authority  of  Mr.  Theodore  Schreiner,  brother  to  the 
authoress  and  Premier,  that  Dr.  Reitz,  ere  the  ink 
of  the  Pretorian  convention  was  dry,  acknowledged 
that  Afrikanders  would  actively  propagandize  until 
they  forced  the  extension  of  that  magnanimity  to  the 
Cape.  Kruger  has  repeated  the  same  thing,  and  the 
more  liberal  Joubert,  who  held  that  many  Uitlanders, 
if  franchised,  would  strengthen  the  republic,  has 
ever  been  desirous  of  sweeping  the  English  from 
South  Africa,  "wiping  out  their  stink,"  as  he  euphon- 
iously put  it. 

The  Jameson  raid,^  and  the  machinations  of  capi- 

1  By  utterances  in  pulpit,  platform,  and  press  it  is  evident  that 
many  well  informed  people  trace  every  cause  of  the  war  to  the  raid, 
which  they  commonly  designate  as  "  Rhodes'  attempt  to  seize  the 
Transvaal."  Bryce,  who  was  compiling  history  on  the  Rand  when 
the  trouble  was  at  its  height,  says:  "  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  point 
out  the  absurdity  of  the  suggestion  that  the  Chartered  Company  in- 
tended to  seize  the  Transvaal  for  itself.  It  was  for  self-government 
the  insurgent  Uitlanders  were  to  rise."  As  an  authority  on  South 
Africa  no  one  is  better  known  perhaps  in  the  United  States  than  this 
historian.  But  unfortunately,  after  proving  the  case  against  Kru- 
gerism  to  the  hilt,  impartially  outlining  the  ideals  and  grievances  of 
the  Uitlanders,  and  dealing  with  the  Boer  government  with  no  gen- 
tle hand  in  "  Impressions  of  South  Africa,"  we  turn  to  him  in  the 
present  juncture  to  discover  a  political  bias  dominating  his  pen. 

In  his  arraignment  of  Mr.  Chamberlain,  he  ignores  much  that  he 
has  previously  written,  and  makes  a  main  contention  of  the  fact 
that  Kruger  is  old ;  Chamberlain  and  the  Uitlanders  should  have 
waited  until  he  died  or  the  latter  grew  strong  enough  numerically 
to  strike  the  blow  for  their  own  freedom.  If  the  North  American 
colonists  had  meekly  submitted  to  imposition  until  George  III. 
should  have  died,  history  would  now  be  different.  Patience  and 
progression  are  not  synonymous. 

We  cannot  overlook  also  that  the  negotiations  were  opened 
peacefully  as  a  means  of  averting  civil  war,  inevitable  if  the  intol- 

62 


The  Ideal  of  the  Taal 

talists  must  not  obscure  our  vision  of  underlying 
causes  that  made  hostilities  in  South  Africa  inevita- 
ble within  the  next  decade.  To  those  who  lay  entire 
onus  of  the  war  on  the  Colonial  Secretary,  and  trace 
all  evils  to  the  door  of  the  above,  I  would  submit 
the  early  files  of  De  Patriot,  the  great  Taal  organ 
of  South  Africa,  the  mouthpiece  of  the  Afrikander 
party  in  the  colonies.  The  magnanimous  peace  of 
Majuba  evoked  the  following  effusion:  — 

"  The  Transvaal  war  is  over  and  we  now  sing  praises  to 
God  for  the  deliverance  of  our  brethren  and.  the  restoration 
of  a  pure  and  righteous  government.  God's  hand  has 
been  never  so  visible  in  the  history  of  our  people  since  the 
days  of  Israel.  Fear  from  God  make  the  English  soldiers 
powerless,  and  proud  England  was  forced  to  give  up  the  land 
after  she  was  repeatedly  beaten  by  a  handful  of  Boers,  God 
giving  a  marvellous  victory  without  losses  to  his  people. 
,  .  .  The  Afrikanders  have  now  time  and  opportunity  to 
develop  themselves  as  a  people.  England  has  gained  so 
much  respect  for  us  Afrikanders  that  she  will  never  dare 
to  make  war  on  us  again;  and  what  the  Transvaal  has 
gained,  so  can  we  gain  for  all  South  Africa,  for  we  have 
now  no  fear  of  English  soldiers  or  their  cannon." 

Dr.  Reitz,  E.  Borckenhagen,  who  inspired  the 
above  article,  and  Rev.  J.  S.  du  Toit  then  founded 
the  Afrikander  Bond,  whose  avowed  object  was  to 

erable  legislation  of  the  Transvaal  were  persisted  in.  And  even  if 
Kruger's  motives  were  unjustly  mistrusted  by  the  British,  all  might 
have  ended  peaceably  had  not  the  burghers  clamored  for  war  from 
May  onward,  and  finally  rendered  it  inevitable. 

63 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

expel  the  British  race  from  South  Africa.  The 
following  were  the  ideals  of  this  marvellous  organi- 
zation of  all  Afrikanders,  from  Cape  to  Zambesi. 
You  will  note  that  their  references  are  directed 
to  the  British  colonies,  which  they  claimed  for 
Af  rikanderdom :  — 

^^The  government  of  England  talks  of  the  confederation 
of  all  the  States  in  their  colonies  here  under  the  British 
flag.  There  is  one  fault  in  that  confederation  that  will 
make  it  impossible,  for  we  will  never  permit  it  —  it  is 
that  flag.  .  .  .  Our  aim  will  be  to  insist  on  Fronde's  ad- 
vice :  Simon's  Bay  for  the  British  to  refit  on  the  voyage 
to  India,  and  nothing  more.  ...  We  have  seen  what  stu- 
pendous results  we  gained  from  the  Transvaal  war.  Now 
we  must  not  relax  our  efforts.  It  is  we  Afrikanders  under 
or  they  under.  .   .   . 

*'  These  English  come  to  South  Africa  and  open  hotels, 
canteens,  and  stores.  The  stores  are  our  dangerous  enemy, 
for  our  people  are  attracted  thereby,  and  they  buy,  buy  till 
they  are  half  ruined.  .  .  This  money  is  used  to  support 
English  papers  and  English  schools,  and  we  say  plainly  it 
is  the  duty  of  the  true  Afrikander  to  buy  nothing  from  an 
Englishman  nor  from  one  who  advertises  in  English  news- 
papers. Where  there  is  no  offal  there  are  no  vultures. 
The  English  rob  us  with  their  stores  and  banks.  The 
Free  State  has  its  own  National  bank.  Let  not  the 
Transvaal  follow  alone,  but  let  the  colonies  establish 
Afrikander  banks  to  further  displace  these  English.  We 
must  also  learn  to  make  our  own  munitions  of  war.  The 
republics  must  do  this  for  us  :  for  all  Afrikanders.     We 

64 


What  the  Bond  Outlined 

do  not  fear  the  reds  (soldiers).  They  will  never  dare  face 
Afrikanders  again  after  Majuba.  But  we  must  have  can- 
non and  cartridges  and  artillery  held  in  the  Transvaal  and 
in  the  Free  State.  .  .  .  Let  us  take  a  little  time  and  we 
will  develop  our  nationality.  .   .   . 

''  English  vultures  in  the  towns  will  soon  be  forced  to 
depart,  but  it  is  the  English  settlers  who  buy  land  that  we 
must  fear.  They  come  here  to  stay.  Afrikanders,  you 
must  not  sell  your  land  to  Englishmen.  We  own  the  big 
ranches.  The  English  colonist  is  a  jingo,  and  he  will  sacri- 
fice our  land  and  our  people  to  England  and  English  ideas. 
.  .  .  The  English  language  has  unjustly  protruded  itself 
over  our  whole  country  .  .  .  the  gibberish  of  the  rooineks 
forces  its  way  into  our  houses  and  our  churches.  .  .  . 

"Besides  the  English  soakers  (hotel  keepers),  robbers, 
(traders),  reds  (soldiers),  there  are  the  bluffers,  English 
and  Anglified  schoolmasters,  who  teach  our  children  that 
the  English  tongue  is  the  finest,  whereas  it  is  a  miscel- 
laneous gibberish ;  .  .  .  that  English  history  is  inter- 
esting and  glorious,  instead  of  a  string  of  lies;  that  the 
geography  of  England  is  chief,  when  it  is  but  a  North 
Sea  Island;  .  .  .  that  English  literature  is  the  best, 
when  (with  exceptions)  it  is  a  great  mass  of  nonsense. 
.  .  .  These  bluffers  are  most  dangerous  to  us,  for  they  work 
unobtrusively.  .  .  .  We  must  have  no  English  in  our  par- 
liament, courts,  public  offices,  railways.  In  our  religion 
we  must  not  let  that  language  intrude.  Anglified  preach- 
ers smuggle  in  the  language.  Therefore  war  against  it  in 
our  church.   •   .   . 

"  For  the  schools  for  our  girls  the  English  lead.  We 
must  establish  Afrikander  schools  for  our  children,  for  by 
5  65 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Anglifying  our  daughters  they  infect  family  life.  The 
English  notion  that  women  are  to  have  high  education  is 
insane,  unscriptural,  house-corrupting,  home-corrupting. 
These  schools  for  girls  must  be  banished  from  our  land. 
The  Huguenot  schools  are  corrupting  our  daughters  with 
education  that  their  parents  do  not  understand.  Keep 
your  houses  pure  from  this  high  English  education." 

The  avowed  intention  of  the  Bond  was  to  erect  an 
Afrikander  nation  to  offset  the  Anglo  Saxon  supe- 
riority in  North  America,  and  as  the  Dutch  had  been 
submerged  there,  Hollanders  were  asked  to  join  their 
hybrid  South  African  brothers  in  their  retrogres- 
sive ideals.  But  civilization  would  have  no  such 
trammels.  Despite  the  Bond,  Afrikanders  adopted 
modern  ideas,  introduced  by  the  influx  of  British 
settlers,  and,  to  the  disgust  of  Reitz  and  his  rabid 
prototypes,  the  more  progressive  Dutch  colonials  have 
recognized  that  the  future  of  South  Africa  must  be 
shaped  by  the  liberal  colonial  policy  of  Greater  Brit- 
ain. When  it  came  to  the  crucial  test,  to  the  chagrin 
of  the  ultra  Bondites,  colonial  Afrikanders  in  majority 
remained  loyal.  The  later  generations  have  proved 
true  British  subjects,  and  the  roster  of  the  colonial 
volunteers  now  at  the  front  contains  an  astonish- 
ing number  of  Dutch  names  of  men  fighting  to  free 
South  Africa  from  a  retrograde  dominance. 

Dutch  paramountcy  could  not  have  become  a  dan- 
gerous issue  for  years ;  probably  it  would  never  have 
become  an  active  factor  but  for  the  geological  acci- 

66 


The  Arming  of  the  Transvaal 

dent  of  gold  in  the  Transvaal.  The  Boers  were  the 
most  bitter  Afrikanders;  gold  meant  revenue  for 
new  rifles  for  every  burgher,  and  the  Free  State 
allies,  and  for  all  Afrikanders,  when  the  time  should 
come  for  them  to  arm.  It  seemed  a  Divine  provision 
for  victory,  this  fabulous  wealth.  The  friction  over 
the  Uitlander  grievances  and  distrust  of  Rhodes  and 
Chamberlain  were  only  incentives,  —  the  extra  strain 
to  overreach  breaking-point.  A  red  rag  is  not  dan- 
gerous unless  waved  at  a  bull,  and  the  diplomatic 
friction  at  Bloemfontein  could  not  have  caused  war 
under  normal  conditions. 

The  pitiful  exegesis  of  the  Afrikander  leaders  de- 
luded Kruger's  ignorant  subjects;  they  overrated 
the  racial  instincts  and  underrated  the  loyalty  of  the 
Cape  Dutch;  and  when  prosperity  dawned  in  the 
Transvaal,  the  projected  armaments  were  started, 
until  they  assumed  gigantic  proportions.  Mauser 
rifles,  Creusot  guns,  and  trained  German  gunners 
were  necessary  neither  for  defence  nor  aggression 
against  native  tribes  or  unarmed  Uitlanders.  Long 
before  the  raid  the  Transvaal  was  arming,  and,  prac- 
tically surrounded  by  British  territory,  the  stupen- 
dous increase  of  armaments  was  either  for  offence  or 
defence  against  Great  Britain. 

The  raid  took  place  at  the  dawn  of  1896.  But  in 
1886  Nellmapius,  the  indicted  but  never  sentenced 
embezzler,  established  the  official  gunpowder  fac- 
tory in  the  Transvaal.     In  1888,  when  revenue  com- 

67 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

menced  to  pour  in,  large  orders  for  arms  were  placed 
in  Europe.  In  1893  enough  money  had  been 
diverted  from  Uitlanders  to  justify  preparations  for 
the  fortification  of  Pretoria  and  Johannesburg.  Dr. 
Leyds  scoured  Germany  for  trained  gunners;  one 
officer  enlisted  by  his  efforts,  who  served  later  "  for 
love  of  the  republic,"  had  been  dismissed  the  Ger- 
man army  for  killing  a  mechanic  who  accident- 
ally kicked  his  chair.  The  forts  were  started  in 
1894,  when  the  Staats  Artillery  was  mobilized.  One 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  rifles  and  millions  of  car- 
tridges were  imported  from  the  Mauser  Company  and 
England,  and  distributed  throughout  the  republics. 
Before  the  raid,  orders  for  heavy  guns  had  been 
placed  with  Krupp  and  Le  Creusot,  and  Maxims  im- 
ported. Fearful  that  the  war  would  be  precipitated 
by  complications  following  the  raid,  and  in  the  ex- 
pectancy of  a  backing  by  Germany  in  1896  and  1897, 
greater  sums  were  expended  than  in  previous  years. 

The  official  figures  of  the  Don  Juan  Nepomuceno 
de  Burionagonatotorecagageazcoecha  of  the  Transvaal 
are  complicated  and  difficult  of  access,  but  the  mili- 
tary expenditures  of  the  peace-loving  republic  were 
over  $400,000  in  1889,  considerably  more  than  half 
that  sum  in  1890,  and  in  exact  figures, — 

£117,927  in  1891  £87,308  in  1895 

29,750  ''  1892  495,818  ^<  1896 

22,470  ''  1893  396,384  ''  1897 

28,153  '^  1894  217,839  ''  1898 

68 


The  Free  State  Allied 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  these  sums,  enor- 
mous for  a  country  boasting  a  $3  treasury  a  few 
years  previously,  were  expended  in  their  entirety  for 
arms  and  equipment.  The  cost  of  the  fortifications 
was  charged  to  Public  Works.  The  salaries  of  mer- 
cenaries were  paid  from  the  Secret  Service  fund  or 
by  departments  to  which  they  were  attached. 

Of  the  Orange  Free  State  one  hesitates  to  speak. 
It  seems  incredible  that  the  kindly  and  intelligent 
President  would  imperil  the  national  existence  of  his 
people  for  mere  bonds  of  kinship  with  the  neighbor- 
ing State  that  has  never  proved  true  ally  or  friend. 
The  Free  State  had  none  of  the  animosities  that 
dominated  the  Transvaal,  and  no  ground  for  com- 
plaint in  the  freedom  and  scope  of  its  constitution, 
which  the  Uitlanders  have  ever  held  as  a  model  for 
President  Kruger.  The  hundreds  of  Free  Staters 
who  left  their  country  rather  than  support  the  vagary 
of  their  rulers,  say  that  President  Steyn  and  his  sup- 
porters cherished  the  ideal  of  Afrikander,  L  e.,  Boer 
South  Africa,  and  after  a  careful  study  of  the  con- 
ditions and  possibilities,  when  some  thirty  thousand 
rifles  had  been  distributed  among  the  ultra  Dutch 
in  the  colonies  he  resolved  to  risk  all  in  a  bid  for 
Afrikander  empire.  His  appeal  to  Dutch  British 
subjects  was  printed  and  distributed  ere  the  ultima- 
tum expired,  and  bitter  was  his  disappointment  that 
the  Cape  burghers  remained  loyal  to  the  flag  that  gave 
them  a  control  as  free  as  a  republic. 

69 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

He  has  lost  the  respect  of  his  warmest  admirers  by 
the  ridiculous  lies  that  he  has  spread  to  encourage 
his  burghers  in  days  of  reverse.  He  first  declared 
that  the  Continental  Powers  were  about  to  intervene, 
then  that  Russia  had  seized  India,  that  the  United 
States  was  certain  to  intervene  eventually,  and  finally 
that  an  Irish  revolt  was  about  to  recall  the  army. 

Certainly  his  own  burghers  of  the  Frazer  party 
had  no  sympathy  with  his  aspirations.  Some  are 
fighting  unwillingly,  hundreds  deserted  when  the 
British  advanced,  and  many,  branded  as  traitors,  fled 
when  war  was  declared,  to  live  doggo  in  Cape  Colony. 
Here,  too.  President  Steyn  sent  his  wife  and  daugh- 
ters for  safety  at  the  outbreak  of  war;  safety  in  the 
enemy's  country  at  Swellendam,  but  eighteen  miles 
from  Cape  Town ;  security  under  the  British  flag, 
while  under  the  vier-kleur  British  women  have  been 
driven  forth  to  perish  on  the  veldt  unless  their 
strength  and  resolution  sustained  them  to  a  British 
garrison. 

But  for  the  cautious  influence  of  Steyn,  who 
apparently  wished  for  further  manifestations  from 
the  Cape  Dutch  before  risking  his  country,  and 
was  somewhat  restrained  by  the  large  Free  State 
peace  party,  war  would  have  been  declared  months 
earlier.  The  despatch  of  reinforcements  precipitated 
what  prudence  had  advised  to  delay  for  further  prep- 
arations, and  the  republics  declared  war  to  win  or  lose 
all  in  the  game  of  supremacy. 

70 


The  Exodus  from  the  Rand 

The  meetings  held  at  the  Paarde  Kraal  monument 
and  other  points,  in  June,  proved  the  warlike  spirit 
that  had  been  infused  into  the  burghers.  In  the 
Transvaal,  war  was  the  main  topic,  and  in  July, 
when  fighting  seemed  preposterous  to  outsiders,  hun- 
dreds of  Uitlanders  removed  their  families  from  the 
Rand.  Arrogance  and  intolerance  of  things  British 
grew  with  the  martial  spirit,  and  numerous  instances 
of  brutality  were  reported.  In  August  the  open 
threats  of  the  Boers  swelled  the  steady  exodus  into 
a  rush  that  became  a  mad  panic  in  September,  and 
spread  to  the  border  towns  exposed  to  the  threatened 
invasion. 

As  commando  after  commando  was  hurried  to  the 
border,  in  committal  of  the  initial  sin  charged  against 
the  imperial  government,  thousands  of  Uitlanders 
barricaded  their  stores  and  houses,  and  started  for 
British  territory.  The  inevitable  sufferings  of  these 
refugees,  exaggerated  by  the  excitement  and  fear  of 
the  moment,  were  greatly  augmented  by  the  crass 
brutality  of  the  Boers.  Mr.  Schreiner  has  officially 
denied  that  these  outrages  were  perpetrated.  Rabid 
colonial  loyalists  say  that  he  was  too  busy  mollify- 
ing his  Bond  supporters  by  securing  the  neutrality  of 
British  South  Africa  in  a  British  war,  to  attend  to 
such  matters. 

I  can  only  state  facts  as  I  learned  them  from  the 
refugees  themselves,  —  plain  British  women,  typical 
mothers   of  the   nation.     The   Boer  lout  is   by  no 

71 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

means  a  "Benbow,"  and  he  knows  his  Old  Testa- 
ment well.  It  was  not  the  roughs  alone  who  boasted 
of  "the  comely  woman  for  each  warrior,  and  the 
rooinehs  into  the  sea."  Martial  law  from  the  Book 
of  Numbers  was  frequently  quoted  at  commando 
meetings  by  jonkherrs  and  Dopper  leaders,  and  there 
are  some  Boers  who  fain  would  have  treated  the 
British  in  Cape  Colony  as  Israel  treated  the  Midian- 
ites,  as  a  policy  consistent  with  their  belief. 

Men,  women,  and  children,  in  the  early  days  of 
October,  were  crowded  into  seatless  coal  and  cattle 
trucks,  the  latter  Augean  stables,  and  sent  over  the 
frontier.  On  both  Cape  and  Natal  journeys  Boers 
gathered  at  the  wayside  stations,  baiting  the  refugees 
being  a  regular  diversion  for  the  burghers.  Mr. 
Langham,  a  Reformist  who  ventured  to  the  station 
when  the  Krugersdorp  commando  was  entraining, 
was  kicked,  beaten,  and  mortally  injured.  At  Vil- 
joen's  Drift  rude  official  searches  were  made,  at 
Paarde  Kraal  ladies  were  kissed,  and  told  to  prepare 
for  Boer  paramours;  at  Kroonstaad  a  Scotch  lady 
who  resented  an  insult  was  struck  in  the  face.  On 
at  least  three  trains,  fathers  who  ventured  from  the 
station  to  buy  milk  for  their  famished  children  were 
driven  back  to  the  cars  by  the  sjamhohs  of  mounted 
burghers ;  several  bore  bleeding  weals  on  their  faces. 
A  father  who  protested  that  his  child  would  die,  was 
assured,  with  a  slash,  that  it  would  be  one  more 
Tooinek    in    hell.     An   American    was    beaten    and 

72 


Outrages  on  Refugees 

kicked,  the  Z.  A.  R.  Police  pushing  their  revolvers 
in  his  face  when  he  demanded  protection. 

On  October  1st  at  Machadodorp,  at  other  points 
at  other  times,  all  male  passengers  were  forced  to 
remain  bareheaded  in  the  presence  of  waiting  com- 
mandoes. Those  who  declined  to  comply  were 
dragged  to  the  platform  and  beaten  and  kicked; 
two  Englishmen,  whose  names  I  withhold  by  re- 
quest, bore  the  marks  of  their  treatment.  I  con- 
versed with  several  refugees  who  showed  bruises  and 
weals  to  confirm  their  statements.  A  woman  from 
Grantham  stated  that  her  child  of  two  stared  fear- 
lessly at  an  insulting  burgher,  who  snatched  the  girl 
from  her  lap,  a  comrade  pointing  a  gun  at  the  child's 
head.  The  distracted  mother's  appeals  caused  in- 
tense amusement  to  the  crowd,  and  no  one  to-day 
can  persuade  her  that  they  did  not  intend  murder. 
A  Boer  officer  shouted  jocularly,  "Give  the  child 
back;  let  it  grow  to  bear  rooinehs  for  us  to  kill.'* 
An  Irish  sister  of  charity,  protesting,  was  silenced 
by  a  lusty  Boer  who  spat  in  her  face.  A  shower 
of  stones  followed  the  train,  several  people  being 
injured. 

Separated  from  their  husbands,  who  were  held  back 
for  night  trains,  several  English  ladies  were  crowded 
in  open  trucks  with  miners  and  drunken  roughs, 
unable  to  obtain  food  or  change  their  position  for 
forty-eight  hours.  The  frights  and  excitement  pro- 
duced unnatural  conditions  on  several  trains.     Two 

73 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

women  died  on  reaching  the  frontier,  and  several 
small  occupants  were  added  to  the  cars  en  route. 
Individual  officers  went  through  some  of  the  cars, 
examining  the  cash  of  the  refugees.  Small  sums 
were  returned,  but  many  who  were  taking  out  their 
savings  had  the  entire  amount  commandeered,  save  a 
pound  or  two  allowed  for  incidentals. 

All  this  I  know  was  the  work  of  the  lowest  type 
of  Boer,  but  the  police  who  enjoyed  the  "  jokes  " 
represented  the  law  and  order  of  the  republic. 
Representative  Boers  also  incited  such  actions  by 
their  speeches,  and  frequently  encouraged  them  by 
their  acclamations.  To  the  limitations  of  the  minds 
of  the  South  African  Dutch,  no  real  harm  was  in- 
tended. But  the  extreme  type  of  "Brother  Boer," 
Mr.  Lacy,  who  should  know  him  well  enough  to 
speak  with  authority  says,  "is  the  craftiest,  most 
hypocritical,  most  untruthful,  cruellest,  most  igno- 
rant, most  overbearing,  most  stupid  race  of  whites 
in  the  world."  A  heavy  indictment  indeed,  with 
many  vigorous  exceptions. 

Since  ninety  thousand  fugitives  left  the  Rand 
during  the  last  days'  rush,  a  large  proportion  of 
them  penniless,  Durban,  Cape  Town,  and  many  in- 
termediate places  on  the  railroads  were  soon  crowded 
with  destitute  Uitlanders  of  every  race.  The  Rand 
Relief  Committee  had  disbursed  $100,000  during  the 
first  week  in  October,  and  local  committees  worked 
night  and  day  in  providing  for  the  needy,  though  all 

74 


05    a. 


m 


Relief  of  Refugees 

resources  were  taxed  to  the  utmost.  It  was  pitiful 
to  witness  the  acute  despondency  in  the  sad,  strained 
faces  of  the  British  women  and  children,  as  train 
after  train  deposited  its  heavy  freight  of  homeless 
and  helpless  innocent  beyond  the  borders. 

Mothers  almost  denuded  themselves  to  shield  their 
young  ones  from  the  chill  rains,  but  as  they  sat 
among  the  bundles  of  their  sole  remaining  posses- 
sions, few  asked  for  charity;  despite  their  sorrow 
and  suffering,  all  wanted  work.  Though  small-pox 
broke  out  among  some  of  the  refugees,  the  colonists, 
heedless  of  the  danger,  threw  open  their  houses  to 
the  women  and  children,  and  the  very  poorest  offered 
lodging  or  food  according  to  their  ability.  Bureaus 
also  arranged  systematized  relief,  applicants  receiv- 
ing in  accordance  to  their  needs,  and  paying  to  suit 
their  means.  Many  of  the  Dutch  co-operated  with 
the  British  in  relieving  war's  favorite  victims,  though 
in  Cape  Town,  certain  of  their  religious  bodies  showed 
no  disposition  to  aid  the  work ;  and  I  found  some  Mrs. 
Jellybys,  lights  of  liberality  in  their  synod,  refusing 
to  help  the  women  and  children  of  the  Uitlanders, 
who  "deserved  their  fate  for  causing  the  war." 

Americans,  Europeans,  from  Russians  to  Polish 
Jews,  coolies  and  negroes,  — all  were  helped  in  turn. 
Many  male  British  subjects,  and  a  number  of  the 
Americans  joined  the  colonial  irregulars;  the  mis- 
cellaneous crowd  found  employment  in  extensive 
relief-works. 

7^ 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Multitudinous  Chinese  storekeepers  had  suffered 
severely,  since,  to  evade  the  Transvaal  prohibition 
against  their  holding  property,  they  had  traded  under 
the  names  of  British  brokers,  and  had  their  stocks 
commandeered  in  consequence.  The  numerous  Hin- 
doo traders  also  were  robbed  and  severely  maltreated 
ere  they  crossed  the  borders,  three  of  their  women 
being  stripped  naked  by  one  commando,  with  the 
jeering  excuse  that  they  were  no  better  than  niggers, 
and  clothes  were  unnecessary. 


76 


CHAPTER  IV 

War.  —  Invasion  of  the  Colonies.  —  The  Battle 
OP  Dundee. 

On  October  2  the  Volksraad  was  prorogued  in 
Pretoria.  President  Kruger  in  addressing  the  mem- 
bers said  that  everything  pointed  to  war.  "The 
Boers  need  fear  nothing :  thousands  would  come  to 
attack  them;  but  the  Lord  was  on  their  side,  and 
they  would  prevail.  Thousands  of  bullets  were 
fired  by  Jameson's  men,  but  the  burghers  were  un- 
touched, while  100  [sic]  on  the  other  side  were 
killed  by  Boer  bullets  directed  by  God."  Other 
members  spoke,  many  with  evident  sincerity,  be- 
lieving their  cause  righteous  and  their  country 
menaced. 

State  Secretary  Reitz  had  long  since  composed 
the  ultimatum  to  force  the  war  he  had  thought  of 
so  long:  the  war  for  his  ideal.  He  had  jumped 
from  the  Presidential  chair  of  the  Free  State  to 
take  up  the  State  Secretary's  portfolio  in  the  more 
wealthy  Transvaal;  he  had  slaved  night  and  day, 
honestly  believing  in  the  Divine  guidance  of  his 
policy,  and  now  war  was  here.  With  young 
Smuts,  still   in   his   salad   days,  and   with  not  too 

77 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

savory  a  reputation,  bolstered  up  as  State  Attorney ; 
Grobler  pitchforked  in  the  secretaryship  of  Foreign 
Affairs  by  the  concessionnaire  Mendelssohn ;  the  ques- 
tionable Smit;  Tosen,  with  name  besmirched  in  a 
matrimonial  suit;  Gillingham,  the  Irish  renegade; 
Voltter,  Schiel,  and  a  score  others  of  the  young 
Boer  party,  the  Transvaal  Tammany  that  has  run 
the  corrupt  government  of  the  simple  Boers,  with 
the  Uitlanders  as  prey  for  spoils,  —  who  can  wonder 
that  war  came? 

Look  carefully  at  these  individuals,  chiefly  hire- 
lings and  mercenaries !  You  will  perceive  the 
fallacy  of  the  syllogistic  eulogies  that  place  the 
republic  in  a  religious  halo,  because  of  the  God- 
fearing characteristics  of  individual  Boers.  It  is 
said  that  a  conscience  could  not  exist  in  Pre- 
toria; certainly  men  of  the  calibre  of  Chief  Justice 
Kotze  and  Judge  Ameshoff,  the  one  dismissed, 
the  other  forced  to  resign,  because  they  would 
not  adopt  the  travesty  of  justice  enforced  by 
the  President,  could  have  no  place  in  the  Kruger 
regime. 

Joubert,  the  liberal  and  incorruptible  patriot ;  Jeppe, 
who,  in  an  arraignment  of  the  franchise  policy  in  the 
Volksraad,  asked  the  President,  "  Old  as  the  world 
is,  has  any  attempt  like  ours  ever  succeeded  for 
long  ?  "  and  warned  him  to  enfranchise  the  Uitlanders 
or  lose  the  republic;  Jan  Barnard,  the  Uitlanders' 
friend,  who  to  the  last  deplored  the  Krugerism  that 

78 


Een  Draght  Maakt  Magt 

precipitated  war,  but  was  one  of  the  first  to  die 
fio-hting  bravely  for  his  country,  —  these  were  the 
type  of  Boers  who  would  have  reared  and  perma- 
nently sustained  a  progressive  republic,  had  not  the 
party  they  represented  been  held  out  of  power  by 
scheming  monopolists  whose  strenuous  and  unscru- 
pulous efforts  secured  only  a  narrow  majority  for 
the  Kruger  party. 

Een  draght  maakt  magt  is  the  Boer  motto,  but 
"Money  makes  might  and  right"  would  not 
be  inappropriate.  The  "Christian  resignation"  of 
Kruger's  esoteric  advisers  is  obvious  hypocrisy,  not 
to  say  blasphemy;  and  without  direct  comparisons, 
the  public  worship  of  the  bloody  Weyler  Camarilla 
might  have  equally  demanded  the  sympathy  of 
Christian  nations  for  Spain.  Corruption  in  Pretoria 
was  no  worse  perhaps  than  in  certain  other  and 
greater  cities,  but  that  is  no  reason  for  its  tolerance 
by  a  vote-tied  majority. 

The  commandoes  were  rapidly  mobilized,  for 
though  the  Transvaal  was  not  an  absolute  embodi- 
ment of  Carlyle's  ideal,  —  a  nation  drilled  and  exer- 
cised as  one  vast  army,  —  the  very  simplicity  of  the 
militaiy  system,  possible  from  the  inherent  traits 
of  the  bucolic  burghers,  permitted  facile  concentra- 
tion. Prepared  for  eventualities,  on  the  call  to 
arms  the  Boers  had  but  to  saddle  their  horses,  don 
rifle,  bandolier,  and  blanket,  and  ride  to  the  district 
muster.     Each  burgher  carried  a  supply  of  hiltong^ 

79 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

and  was  ready  for  the  field,  though  in  many  cases 
the  devoted  women  followed  the  commandoes  in 
wagons  filled  with  such  simple  luxuries  as  they 
possessed.  Each  commando  moved  off  with  the 
prayers  and  blessings  of  the  vrouws.  Like  the 
Spartan  women  of  old,  there  were  few  tears  shed 
by  either  the  ponderous  tantes  or  the  young  nichtjes. 
They  sent  their  husbands  and  lovers  forth  to  return 
victors  or  die  on  the  field. 

By  train  and  road,  a  strong  force  of  Boers  gath- 
ered at  Volksrust  and  Wakkerstroom,  ready  to  act 
in  their  old  theatre  of  war  at  Laing's  Nek.  Other 
forces  prepared  to  invade  Natal  by  the  drifts  on 
the  Buffalo  River.  The  northwestern  commandoes 
moved  toward  the  Rhodesian  frontier,  and  also  occu- 
pied Komati  Poort,  commanding  the  Delagoa  Bay 
railroad,  in  anticipation  of  cession  of  Portuguese 
territory  to  Great  Britain.  Snyman  and  De  la  Rey 
laagered  with  Cronje  at  Bultfontein,  ready  to  operate 
against  Mafeking  and  Kimberley.  The  Free  Staters 
moved  strong  commandoes  to  the  main  Drakensberg 
passes  leading  into  Natal,  and  mixed  forces  marched 
to  the  borders  toward  Kimberley. 

A  careful  estimate  of  the  Boer  army  at  the  out- 
break of  hostilities  gives  the  strength  of  the  com- 
bined republics  at  70,000  men.  After  the  first 
month  of  war  I  compiled  the  following  estimate 
from  data  given  me  by  Afrikanders  connected  with 
the  republic :  — 

80 


The  Armies  of  the  Republics 

Transvaal  official  return,  1895 30,000 

Natural  increase  of  burghers,  1895  to  1899  .  3,000 
Mercenary  troops  and  Uitlanders  siding  with. 

Boers 4,600 

Hollanders,     Cape    Dutch,    and    foreigners 

naturalized,  1895  to  1899 3,000 

Free  State  official  burgher  returns    ....   27,500 

Foreigners,  etc 2,000 

Cape  Dutch  rebels 6,000 

Grand  total 76,100 

The  simple,  home-loving  burghers  rode  forth  to 
battle,  blindly  breathing  threats  against  Cecil  Rhodes, 
Chamberlain,  and  Frank  Eyes  (Franchise).  This  last 
was  to  be  shot  on  sight  {Frank  Eyes  sal  wij  skijf)^  for 
he  had  caused  much  trouble.  God  help  those  deluded 
farmers  :  willing  victims  of  the  scheming  of  Pretoria's 
Continental  toadies ! 

In  Johannesburg  business  was  at  a  standstill,  and 
sixty-eight  out  of  eighty  mines  were  closed  down. 
The  sweepings  of  the  city,  the  roughugies,  schlenter 
dealers,  and  thieves  of  the  mining  camps  were  ex- 
pelled by  the  last  trains.  Three  hundred  French, 
German,  and  Swiss  were  enrolled  as  police,  the 
"  Colin  Tampon's  "  doing  very  efficient  work  in  this 
respect.  The  revelations  made  by  these  foreigners 
as  to  the  condition  of  the  Transvaal  native  prisoners 
make  one  shudder.  Other  foreigners  joined  the  mer- 
cenaries, soldiers  of  fortune  officering  contingents  of 
their  respective  countries. 
6  81 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

The  Z.  A.  R.  Police  under  Van  Dam  and  Schutte 
went  to  fight  of  their  own  volition.  The  guns  of  the 
Hospital  Hill  fort  were  sent  to  the  front,  but  a  garri- 
son was  retained  there  under  Van  Dalwig. 

Under  the  guise  of  commandeering  food-stuffs  the 
homes  of  the  Uitlanders  were  broken  open  and 
plundered;  even  Olive  Schreiner's  Transvaal  resi- 
dence was  ransacked,  and  a  valuable  library  flung 
outside  as  superfluous. 

In  Pretoria  the  officials  were  all  at  the  front,  the 
public  offices  being  filled  by  friendly  foreigners.  The 
Krijgsraad  directed  active  operations  under  the 
President's  watchful  eye.  He  professed  that  the  war 
must  be  conducted  in  accordance  with  the  Bible, 
which  had  guided  all  their  actions,  though  he  over- 
looked the  fact  that  his  obedience  of  Leviticus 
xix.  34,  "  But  the  stranger  that  dwelleth  with 
you  shall  be  as  one  born  among  you,  and  thou 
shalt  love  him  as  thyself,"  or  the  thrice  reiterated 
command,  "  One  law  for  the  stranger  and  thyself," 
would  have  precluded  war.  "  God  helps  those  who 
help  themselves,"  he  said  during  his  spiritual  ad- 
monition on  October  4th,  and  though  a  week  be- 
fore war  the  mail  train  was  stopped  at  Vereeniging, 
the  government  confiscating  14,000,000  in  specie, 
as  the  property  of  the  AduUamite  Uitlanders.  Later 
the  Executive  commandeered  the  Robinson  and 
Bonanza  mines,  and  despite  the  protest  of  M.  Colom- 
mer,  French  vice-consul,  on  behalf  of  French  share- 

82 


The  Shadow  of  War 

holders,  the  output  of  the  richest  mines  of  the  Rand 
was  speedily  turned  into  gold  currency  in  the  Trans- 
vaal mint,  creating  the  unprecedented  condition  of  a 
country  able  to  keep  its  treasury  filled  by  a  direct 
supply  of  bullion. 

The  foreign  consuls  met  at  the  Italian  Charg^ 
d' Affaires'.  I  have  heard  that  Mr.  Macrum,  the 
American  representative,  was  not  absolutely  persona 
grata  there;  this  may  account  for  his  vagarious 
actions,  though  his  successor  has  not  encountered 
similar  opposition.  Americans  complained  bitterly  of 
their  position  in  the  Transvaal  during  the  crisis,  and 
many  left  the  country.  The  representative  of  the 
American  firm  of  J.  S.  Curtis  &  Co.,  in  giving  notice 
of  his  withdrawal  from  the  Rand,  wrote,  "  My  flag  is 
not  respected,  my  passport  not  recognized,  and,  in 
short,  my  position  was  made  unbearable."  I  have 
heard  others  express  themselves  in  a  similar  manner. 

Under  early  shadows  of  the  war  the  regular 
forces  in  Cape  Colony  numbered  3,000  men,  with  a 
garrison  of  5,000  in  Natal.  The  former  command 
consisted  of  two  companies  of  Garrison  Artillery,  one 
company  of  Engineers,  three  and  one-half  battalions 
of  infantry,  with  detachments,  Army  Service,  Medical 
Staff,  and  Ordnance  Store  Corps.  In  Natal,  General 
Symons  commanded  one  brigade  division  Field 
Artillery,  one  mountain  battery,  three  companies 
Garrison  Artillery,  four  companies  Royal  Engineers, 

83 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

two  calvary  regiments,  six  and  one  half  battalions  of 
infantry,  with  equivalent  sections  of  Army  Service, 
Medical  Staff,  and  Ordnance  Corps. 

The  presence  of  armed  parties  of  Boers  along  the 
frontier  and  the  constant  threat  of  raids  led  to  the 
reinforcement  of  the  Natal  forces  from  the  Cape ; 
but  for  weeks,  when  the  republics  were  shouting 
war,  the  main  approaches  to  the  colonies  and  the 
menaced  border  towns,  were  guarded  only  by  a  few . 
policemen,  —  a  fact  which  certainly  negatives  Eng- 
land's determination  on  war  at  any  price.  When 
the  ultimatum  was  launched.  General  Symons  had  a 
single  infantry  brigade  with  cavalry  and  artillery 
at  the  advance  post,  Glencoe  Camp,  Dundee.  These 
slender  forces  were  absolutely  inadequate  to  prevent 
invasion,  and  any  attempt  to  save  Newcastle  or  hold 
Laing's  Nek  must  have  resulted  in  disaster  from 
attack  in  rear. 

At  the  eleventh  hour  General  White  landed  with 
reinforcements  and  assumed  supreme  command  in 
Natal,  General  Symons  becoming  his  direct  subor- 
dinate. Already  the  Boers  were  preparing  to  pour 
in  from  the  north,  and  it  was  impossible  to  mobilize  a 
force  sufficient  to  occup}^  Laing's  Nek  and  other  passes. 

White  questioned  the  advisability  even  of  attempt- 
ing to  hold  Dundee,  but  the  authorities,  military  and 
civil,  had  underrated  their  foe,  and  the  governor, 
Sir  William  Hely-Hutchinson,  pointed  out  the 
serious    political    consequences   of    abandoning   the 

84 


Commands  in  the  Colonies 

entire  north  of  Natal.  The  coal  fields  in  the  district 
were  of  great  importance,  and  military  considerations 
were  overruled  by  political  possibilities. 

Symons'  command  comprised  three  field  batteries 
R.  A.,  the  18th  Hussars,  and  the  brigaded  1st  King's 
Royal  Rifles,  1st  Leicestershire,  1st  Royal  Irish,  and 
Dublin  Fusiliers.  Some  of  the  reinforcements  that 
had  been  despatched  from  England,  India,  Cairo, 
Malta,  Crete,  and  Gibraltar  reached  White  before 
investment,  and  garrisoned  Ladysmith  as  a  base, 
with  three  field  and  one  mountain  battery  Royal 
Artillery,  5th  Dragoon  Guards,  5th  Lancers,  19th 
Hussars,  the  2d  Gordon  Highlanders,  1st  Devon- 
shire, 1st  Gloucester,  1st  Manchester,  1st  Liverpool 
Regiments  brigaded,  a  colonial  corps  of  the  Natal 
Carabineers,  the  Light-horse  raised  from  the  Uit- 
landers,  and  the  local  artillery  volunteers. 

Along  the  southern  frontier  isolated  guards  of 
policemen  held  the  bridges  and  border  towns  against 
the  republican  forces.  On  the  west  Kimberley  was 
garrisoned  only  by  four  companies  of  the  North 
Lancashire  Infantry  and  local  volunteers.  A  few 
scattered  police  patrols  guarded  the  frontier  to 
Mafeking,  where  Colonel  Baden-Powell  had  organ- 
ized the  local  forces  under  special  service  officers, 
among  whom  were  Lord  Salisbury's  son,  Lord  Cecil, 
and  Lord  Bentinck.  On  the  northern  border  the 
Rhodesian  police  and  volunteers  under  Colonel 
Plumer  patrolled  the  vast  extent  of  frontier,  where 

85 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

they  had  also  to  control  the  natives.  The  recently 
conquered  Matabili  wished  to  take  up  arms  against 
their  old  Boer  foe,  but  at  a  great  indaha,  Gambo, 
Mazwe,  Mpini,  and  the  other  indunas  pledged  neu- 
trality to  the  British  Commissioner,  and  finally 
prevented  their  followers  from  reprisals  for  Boer 
incursions. 

At  no  point  could  direct  opposition  be  made  to 
Boer  invasion,  and  the  enemy  was  able  to  cross  the 
frontiers  at  leisure  at  any  point  desired.  When  the 
time  limit  of  the  ultimatum  expired,  though  many 
commands  were  out  of  telegraphic  communications 
with  Pretoria,  the  Boers  swept  over  the  frontier  into 
British  territory.  They  showed  no  disposition  to 
await  verification  of  the  rejection  of  their  demands, 
and  apparently  realized  that  their  document  would 
precipitate  war.  The  prompt  co-operation  of  the 
Free  State  forces  in  the  campaign  was  also  signifi- 
cant in  the  light  of  President  Steyn's  declarations. 

The  first  shots  were  fired  on  the  western  border. 
Colonel  Baden-Powell  despatched  a  train-load  of  non- 
combatants  to  Kimberley  on  October  12th,  escorted 
by  the  armored  train  Mosquito  under  Captain  Nesbit, 
V.  C.  Picking  up  two  trucks  containing  field-pieces 
and  ammunition  for  the  defence  of  Mafeking,  the 
captain  started  on  his  northward  journey.  At 
Maribogo  the  station-master  notified  him  that  the 
line  was  occupied  by  the  Boers,  but  since  the  guns 
were  needed,  the  plucky  officer,  with  sixteen  volun- 


The  Outbreak  of  War 

teers,  determined  to  run  the  gantlet  under  cover 
of  darkness.  About  midway  the  train  was  derailed, 
and  though  the  handful  of  volunteers  maintained  a 
gallant  defence  of  the  overturned  cars  through  the 
entire  night  against  stupendous  odds,  while  Flower- 
day,  the  engineer,  hurried  back  for  assistance,  the 
fire  of  a  Boer  battery  at  daybreak  ended  resistance 
and  the  survivors  surrendered. 

Communication  with  the  south  was  now  cut  off, 
and  the  Zeerust,  Rustenburg,  and  Lichtenburg  com- 
mandoes under  the  brave  but  merciless  Cronje  com- 
pletely invested  Mafeking,  which  was  given  one 
week  to  surrender,  when  the  investing  forces  were 
to  move  down  to  take  Kimberley.  An  African  chief 
once  told  me  that  if  England  had  many  sons  like 
Baden-Powell  she  must  be  great,  since  he  was  a 
god,  wise,  and  of  powerful  fetish.  Certainly  some 
white  men  might  think  the  colonel  more  than 
human,  but  his  prowess  and  his  qualities  are  an  oft- 
told  tale.  Despite  the  inadequate  means  at  his  dis- 
posal, his  indomitable  character  devised  means  both 
for  defence  and  defiance,  and  Cronje  soon  left 
Mafeking  to  De  la  Rey,  and  moved  south  to  Kim- 
berley, to  win  the  more  possible  honors  of  capturing 
Mr.  Rhodes  alive  or  dead. 

A  force  of  Boers  moved  against  Vryburg,  the  cap- 
ital of  Bechuanaland,  where  Major  Scott  and  a  hand- 
ful of  police  were  prepared  to  resist  to  the  last.  The 
townsfolk,  however,  begged  him  to  avert  attack  by 

87 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

evacuating.  After  a  futile  appeal  by  the  magistrate, 
Mr.  Tillard,  for  loyal  subjects  to  assist  the  mayor, 
when  only  seven  men  responded  amid  the  jeers  and 
taunts  for  Dutch  rebels,  the  police  were  reluctantly 
ordered  to  withdraw.  As  the  Boers  under  Visser 
were  annexing  Vryburg  and  looting  the  homes  of 
defenceless  loyalists  in  a  surrendered  town.  Major 
Scott  shot  himself  through  the  head,  unable  to  face 
the  disgrace  of  enforced  capitulation. 

The  British  colonists  along  the  Bechuanaland  bor- 
der hurriedly  drove  their  stock  westward,  but  their 
farms  were  looted  and  many  destroyed,  and  thousands 
of  cattle  were  captured.  Mixed  Free  State  and  Trans- 
vaal commandoes  under  Prinsloo  moved  against  Kim- 
berley,  cutting  off  communication  with  the  south  by 
blowing  up  the  bridge  over  Modder  Spruit  and  de- 
stroying the  railroad.  The  garrison  under  Colonel 
Kekewich  speedily  converted  the  debris  heaps  from 
the  mines  into  formidable  defences,  wells  were  dug, 
and  the  city  was  prepared  to  resist  stoutly,  when 
Commandant  Engelbracht  fnst  opened  with  his  guns 
at  the  Wesselton  mine,  and  cut  off  the  water  supply. 

Loboers  occupied  the  Belmont  district,  expelling 
all  loyalists,  and  reminding  the  Afrikanders  that  "the 
shirt  was  nearer  the  skin  than  the  coat,"  —  a  curious 
argument  for  men  who  knew  not  the  former.  On 
the  south  the  Colesburg  district  was  occupied  by  the 
Rouxville  commando  under  Rothman  and  annexed 
to   the  Free  State.      The  six  police  at  the  Aliwal 

88 


Invasion  of  the  Colonies 

north  bridge  were  captured,  and,  fearing  it  was 
mined,  the  magistrate,  Mr.  Hugo,  and  his  assistant, 
Van  Keenen,  were  placed  on  the  crossing  while  the 
burghers  under  Olivier  passed  over.  Olivier  with  be- 
coming modesty  changed  the  name  of  the  town  to 
Oliviersfontein,  and  the  Free  State  was  officially  ex- 
tended to  the  Stormbergen  with  the  presidential 
assurance,  "  This  is  the  birth  of  the  great  Afrikander 
nation." 

In  Basutoland,  Sir  Godfrey  Lagden  held  the  war- 
like tribes  in  check.  In  response  to  the  call  of  the 
Basuto  chief,  Lerothodi,  all  chiefs  but  Joel  came  to- 
gether at  Putiatsana  and  pledged  their  loyalty  to  the 
"  Queen  our  Mother,"  and  begged  that  they  might 
help  to  fight  her  battles.  Hundreds  of  Basutos,  in- 
cluding Lerothodi's  son,  who  in  common  with  thou- 
sands of  other  protectorate  natives  were  ordered  from 
the  Rand  and  robbed  of  all  their  earnings  by  the 
Boers,  then  arrived  at  Maseru  and  called  on  their 
brothers  for  revenge.  Only  the  strenuous  efforts  of 
the  Commissioner  sustained  Basuto  neutrality  and 
prevented  fearful  reprisals  on  Boer  women  on  the 
isolated  farms  as  a  return  for  wilful  and  persistent 
ill-treatment,  past  and  present.  The  destruction  of 
the  native  ferry  at  Caledon  Pont  and  several  cattle 
raids  only  added  to  a  resentment  that  might  have 
cost  the  Boers  dearly  but  for  Lagden's  efforts. 
Schalk  Burger  and  the  Vryheid  burghers  also  in- 
vited native  retaliation  in  Zululand  by  looting  cattle 

89 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

and  sacking  Ingwavuma  and  Ntuqu.  In  Swaziland 
the  missionaries  were  ordered  out,  and  the  missions 
and  farms  of  Britishers  systematically  looted. 

For  the  main  army  of  the  republics  under  Joubert 
a  careful  plan  of  campaign  had  been  formulated: 
the  Free  State  commandoes  were  ordered  to  advance 
by  the  Drakensberg  passes  to  menace  Ladysmith  and 
keep  General  White  employed.  Joubert's  army  was 
then  to  move  south  in  three  divisions.  His  right, 
under  Koch  and  Viljoen,  would  occupy  a  point  on  the 
roads  and  railway  between  Ladysmith  and  Dundee, 
thus  cutting  off  communication  and  isolating  Sym- 
ons.  The  centre  division  under  Erasmus  and  the 
left  under  Meyer  would  overwhelm  and  annihilate 
the  Dundee  garrison,  or  drive  it  out  toward  Lady- 
smith, where  its  retreat  was  cut  off  by  Koch.  The 
Free  Staters  having  attained  their  object  in  keeping 
White  occupied  would  then  move  out  to  join  a  com- 
bination of  the  three  divisions  to  overwhelm  Lady- 
smith and  sweep  down  to  Durban  and  the  sea. 

Early  on  October  12th  a  mixed  column  of  Trans- 
vaal and  Free  State  burghers  moved  through  Botha's 
Pass  on  the  right,  into  Natal.  The  left  division  ad- 
vanced from  Wakkerstroom  via  Moll's  Nek  and 
Woldrift.  The  main  column  under  Joubert  crossed 
Laing's  Nek  toward  Ingogo.  When  Joubert's  lambs 
camped  on  the  scene  of  their  leader's  early  triumph, 
they  invoked  the  aid  of  the  God  of  battles  in  their 
cause.      Released  from  this  solemn  service  some  of 

90 


Newcastle  Occupied 

them  gave  vent  to  their  inherent  bestiality  by  des- 
ecrating and  defiling  the  graves  of  the  British  dead, 
buried  where  they  fell  after  the  defeat  of  Majuba. 
Had  I  not  confirmed  this  from  Boer  prisoners,  I 
would  have  omitted  it  as  a  canard ;  but  the  hideous 
fact  was  the  jest  of  the  laager  fires  for  many  a  night, 
though  the  old  burghers  disapproved  of  the  action. 

Unwilling  to  precipitate  hostilities,  the  Colonial 
Government  had  made  no  preparations  to  stay  the 
advance.  The  tunnel  under  Laing's  Nek  could  have 
been  destroyed,  the  culverts  blown  up,  and  the  rail- 
road then  rendered  useless  to  the  Boers.  As  it  was 
captured  intact,  they  had  its  unimpeded  use  to  bring 
up  their  supplies.  It  is  incredible  that  even  at  the 
last  moment  something  was  not  done  to  destroy  the 
line. 

Newcastle  was  occupied  on  the  night  of  the  14th, 
most  of  the  inhabitants,  including  the  Dominican 
nuns  from  their  mission,  being  forced  to  leave  the 
town.  A  storekeeper  unfortunately  named  Chamber- 
lain was  very  roughly  handled,  and  his  house  and 
store  demolished.  It  is  significant  to  note  the  action 
of  several  Dutch  ^  loyalists  here.  Some  openly  defied 
and  ridiculed  the  Boers.  Old  Jan  Uys  and  Matt  Vos 
replied  to  the  address  made  to  the  colonists  to  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance   and  join  the   Boers.     They 

1  All  loyal  Dutchmen  refusing  to  take  up  arms  against  the  Queen 
were  very  severely  handled.  It  is  in  accordance  with  Boer  charac- 
ter to  force  a  surrendered  people  to  fight  against  their  own  side. 

91 


In  South  Africa  with  Duller 

pointed  out  that  the  people  of  Natal,  British  and 
Dutch,  could  become  Uitlanders  under  Kruger  or 
fight  to  remain  the  freest  of  men  under  the  Queen. 
Uys  challenged  the  commandant  to  single  combat,  in 
place  of  a  general  conflict.  But  these  Britishers  were 
arrested  as  traitors  and  sent  to  Pretoria.  The  loyal 
Dutch  then  fled,  their  homes  being  looted. 

Forces  under  Botha  and  Emmett  moved  toward 
Dundee  and  tore  up  the  railroad  there.  True  to 
their  tryst,  the  Free  Staters  that  day  made  a  diver- 
sion from  the  Drakensburg  passes,  drawing  out  a 
portion  of  White's  force  toward  Tintwa  Pass  and 
keeping  Ladysmith  on  the  continual  qui  vive  while 
Joubert's  army  moved  in  from  the  north. 

General  Symons  was  first  apprised  of  the  Boer 
advance  by  the  cutting  of  the  telegraph  wires  on  the 
south  on  the  19th  and  the  arrival  of  the  mail  train 
with  the  announcement  that  the  Boers  had  occupied 
Elandslaagte  as  the  express  dashed  through,  and 
direct  communications  with  Ladysmith  were  cut. 
The  news  of  his  rapid  isolation  was  confirmed  at  sun- 
set, when  cyclist  scouts  paced  in  and  announced  the 
enemy  in  force  on  the  north  and  south  of  Dundee. 
Extra  outposts  were  thrown  out,  but  the  camp  slept 
soundly,  no  attack  being  anticipated  for  a  clear  day 
at  least.  But  at  2.30  o'clock  A.  m.  a  picket  of 
mounted  infantry  stationed  on  the  road  at  Smith's 
Nek  received  a  volley  in  response  to  their  challenge, 
and  reported  a  column  of  the  enemy  closing  on  the 

92 


Battle  of  Dundee 

town  from  that  direction.  The  alarm  sounded,  and 
the  Dublin  Fusiliers  moved  out  to  support  the  picket 
but  found  no  attempt  made  to  force  the  road. 

Reveille  was  sounding  at  sunrise  when,  boom  I 
went  a  gun  on  the  hills  beyond  Dundee,  and  the 
Boers  in  force  were  seen  on  the  heights  commanding 
the  town.  Lucas  Meyer,  filibuster,  elder,  and  politi- 
cian, prompted  by  a  desire  for  undivided  honor  and 
the  kudos  of  first  victory,  had  pressed  across  the 
Buffalo  River  with  the  left  divisi9n  of  Joubert's 
army  to  capture  Dundee  before  the  main  division 
should  arrive.  The  hero  of  the  Vryheid  grab  in 
touching  gasconade  told  his  burghers  that  the  Lord 
had  delivered  the  English  Philistines  into  their 
hands.  They  must  smite  them  hip  and  thigh.  With 
the  Utrech,  Ermelo,  and  Vryheid  commandoes  he 
took  up  a  strong  position  under  cover  of  the  dark- 
ness. With  stupendous  labor  his  men  dragged  three 
guns  to  the  crest  of  Talana  Hill,  a  precipitous  spur  of 
the  Impati  Mountain,  running  due  north  and  south, 
and  completely  commanding  the  camp  and  town- 
ship. The  burghers,  intrenched  on  the  rocky  ridge 
and  on  a  neighboring  nek  and  kopje,  expected  after 
a  preliminary  bombardment  to  carry  Dundee  and 
Glencoe  camp  on  both  flanks. 

In  the  light  of  modem  warfare  such  a  position, 
held  by  4,000  skilled  riflemen,  was  impregnable  to 
Symons'    single    brigade.       As    the   Boer   artillery 

93 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

opened  on  the  camp  and  town,  the  British  infantry- 
turned  out  with  alacrity,  and  the  "  Boots  and  sad- 
dles ! "  of  the  field  artillery  and  cavalry  was  rapidly 
supplemented  by  the  rattle  of  the  guns  as  they 
trotted  smartly  into  position.  In  a  few  minutes  the 
13th  and  69th  Batteries  opened  from  ridges  to  the 
east  of  the  town.  The  67th  remained  in  reserve  with 
the  Leicester  regiment,  but  came  into  action  in  the 
plain  below,  and  despite  the  elevation,  joined  effec- 
tively in  raking  the  enemy's  position. 

On  the  east  of  Dundee  the  ground  slopes  down  a 
thousand  yards  to  a  donga,  or  river-bed.  Beyond  this 
the  open  valley,  laid  out  in  a  farm,  rises  gradually  to 
a  belt  of  woods  from  which  Talana  rears  itself,  first 
in  rough  but  moderate  ascent  for  a  thousand  yards 
to  a  terrace  and  boundary  wall,  then  steeply  up, 
rugged,  rocky,  and  precipitous  as  Majuba's  face,  to 
the  crest  held  by  the  Boers. 

During  the  artillery  duel  Symons  sheltered  his 
infantry,  the  Rifles  and  Fusilier  regiments,  in  the 
donga.  For  two  hours  the  Boers  shelled  ineffectu- 
ally, sometimes  replying  to  the  British  gunners,  then 
dropping  projectiles  into  the  town,  chiefly  near  the 
Swedish  mission,  temporarily  the  hospital.  Their 
shells  were  faulty,  however,  and  did  not  explode. 
Rumor  had  it  that  the  fuses  were  set  by  two  British 
sympathizers,  serving  from  the  one  caisson  on  the 
crest,  and  that  the  history  of  the  friendly  Egyptian 
gunners  forced  to  serve  the  Khalifa's  artillery  against 

94 


Battle  of  Dundee 

Kitchener,  was  repeated ;  but  I  am  inclined  to  think 
shell  made  in  Pretoria  was  nearer  the  truth.  But 
at  half-past  seven  De  Jaeger's  gunners  had  emp- 
tied their  one  ammunition  wagon  and  ceased  firing, 
though  current  history  says  that  they  were  pounded 
into  silence  by  the  British.  The  field  batteries  then 
ceased  as  if  by  mutual  consent,  and  Meyer,  with 
Trichaardt,  Grobler,  Marias,  and  other  leaders,  secure 
in  their  stronghold,  sat  quietly  to  breakfast,  their 
men  making  coffee  behind  the  boulders,  awaiting 
further  shell  for  their  guns.  The  process  of  annihi- 
lation was  to  be  applied  at  leisure. 

The  morning  was  drizzly  and  gray,  but  of  that 
subdued  light  more  effective  than  brilliant  sun  at 
distances  under  a  league.  The  Boers  suddenly  de- 
scried six  dark,  spider-like  creatures  moving  down 
toward  the  donga  below  them ;  a  similar  group  was 
moving  forward  in  another  direction;  then  the 
spiders  dissolved  themselves  into  two  parts,  the 
front  half  retiring  and  the  tail  end  turning  round. 
One,  then  another,  belched  flame  and  smoke ;  the  re- 
ports and  the  projectiles  raced  over  madly.  Those 
rooinek  gunners  were  at  it  again  —  this  time  at 
closer  range,  and  their  shrapnel  began  to  search  out 
the  rocks.  Then,  too,  a  long  line  of  figures  rose  from 
the  river  bed,  and  breaking  up  into  sections,  advanced 
rapidly  over  the  broken  ground  toward  the  hill. 

The  burghers  began  to  shoot,  at  first  leisurely,  for 
they  never  dreamed  of  direct  assault  from  the  de- 

95 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

spised  British  soldier.  But  though  a  few  of  the 
moving  dots  lay  motionless  on  the  plain  below,  the 
lines  still  surged  forward  and  reached  the  wood  at  the 
base  of  the  hill.  "  Less  than  two  thousand  infantry 
storm  a  hill  held  by  twice  their  number  of  skilled 
and  sheltered  riflemen !  "  "  No,  the  hated  rooibatjes 
would  never  emulate  Majuba."  The  burghers  vol- 
leyed down  into  the  trees  for  awhile,  but  then  held 
their  fire  save  when  men  moved  over  the  valley 
below,  succoring  the  wounded  or  carrying  despatches. 
A  Boer  prisoner  told  me  afterwards  that  the  burgh- 
ers were  so  astounded  at  the  assault  that  followed, 
that  for  a  time  some  held  their  fire  in  sheer  amaze- 
ment. 

General  Symons  was  directing  the  operations  in 
person.  After  giving  orders  for  the  assault  to  be, 
pressed,  he  rode  into  the  open  to  become  a  target 
for  a  hundred  rifles,  and  fell,  mortally  wounded,  as 
his  bugles  merrily  rang  out  the  advance.  Like  the 
hero  of  Quebec,  he  lay  on  the  field  until  the  cheers  of 
victory  reached  his  ears,  and  was  then  taken  to  the 
rear  to  die.  His  chief  of  staff,  second  staff  officer, 
and  two  aids  fell  with  their  leader. 

Upwards  now  from  the  woods  surged  the  lines  of 
infantry,  deploying  rapidly,  creeping  forward  from 
rock  to  rock  in  extended  order.  Continuous  lines 
of  fire  ran  along  the  crest  overhead,  the  Mauser  vol- 
leys sounding  like  the  ripping  of  a  Titanic  carpet, 
the  nickel-coated  bullets  whistling  down  the  hillside 

96 


Q 

M 


Battle  of  Dundee 

like  a  gale  in  the  rigging,  accentuated  as  by  gibcats' 
mews  when  the  jackets  had  spread  through  injury  or 
intentional  incision.  At  times  the  tiny  pellets, 
ricochetting  from  the  rocks,  would  cast  their  hard- 
ened coating  with  a  vicious  snap  that  raised  the  cry 
of  explosive  bullets,  while  at  closer  range  old-fash- 
ioned burghers  expended  big-game  ammunition  and 
substantiated  the  charge. 

The  pentacapsular  clips  of  the  Mauser  permit  a 
great  rapidity  of  fire,  but  toiling  painfully  upward 
the  British  "  Tommies "  held  grimly  to  their  task, 
now  firing  at  the  hidden  foe  above,  now  crouching, 
now  forward  with  a  rush,  squirming  over  or  between 
the  boulders,  halting  for  volley  or  individual  fire, 
then  on  again  to  the  goal.  Mid  the  crash  of  the 
Lee  Metfords,  the  roar  of  the  guns  from  the  valley, 
the  spluttering  of  the  Maxims  on  the  flank,  and  the 
firing  enemy  above,  arose  the  cries  of  wounded,  some 
cheering  on  their  comrades,  others  groaning  or  curs- 
ing, while  the  pitiful  advance  was  strewn  with  silent 
forms. 

At  times  the  leading  lines  appeared  to  melt  before 
the  withering  fire  from  the  hilltop ;  barbed-wire 
fences  barred  the  way  and  claimed  their  victims ;  but 
again  and  again,  when  the  movement  seemed  checked, 
officers  sprang  in  the  lead  with  rallying  cries,  sup- 
porting companies  filled  the  gaps,  and  the  lines  went 
steadily  on. 

The  Dublins,  seeking  cover  in  a  nullah,  were  found 
7  97 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

by  the  unerring  oblique  fire  of  the  enemy  on  the  nek, 
and  forced  out,  though  only  to  continue  upward  in 
more  extended  order.  Not  until  ten  o'clock  had  the 
panting  infantry  reached  the  sheltering  boundary  wall 
running  along  the  hillside :  here  they  lay  to  recover 
their  breath.  A  few  of  the  Rifles  clambered  over  the 
obstruction,  but  were  immediately  swept  away,  and 
for  two  hours  the  force  hung  on  tenaciously,  firing 
occasionally  over  the  wall  and  exposed  to  an  enfilade 
fire  from  the  kopje.  Then  by  some  error  in  range 
British  shrapnel  were  dropped  among  the  Rifles, 
killing  Lieutenant  Hambro  and  three  men  and 
wounding  several  others.  Sergeant  Harrington,  after 
vainly  signalling  "  Cease  fire ! "  went  through  a  per- 
fect hell  of  bullets  to  notify  the  gunners  of  their 
mistake. 

Dawkins  and  King  then  limbered  up  to  cover  the 
final  rush,  and  brought  their  batteries  across  the 
valley  to  the  flank  of  the  woods ;  the  Boers,  taking 
advantage  of  the  lull,  turned  to  remove  their  guns 
to  safety.  For  a  moment  the  firing  died  away  as  if 
by  mutual  consent ;  with  a  cheer  the  British  troops 
were  up  and  scaling  the  wall.  A  shattering  maga- 
zine-fire swept  from  above,  but  leaving  Colonel 
Sherstone  and  thirty-two  other  ofiicers  and  men  dead 
and  scores  of  wounded  behind  them,  they  swarmed 
over  and  up  the  precipitous  five  hundred  feet  with 
a  resolution  that  could  not  be  stayed.  As  they  drew 
within  point-blank   distance   the  Boers,  cleverly  en- 

98 


Capture  of  Talana 

sconced  behind  cunningly  arranged  rocks,  blazed  away 
madly,  and  the  British  lines  wavered  for  a  moment. 
The  Dublins,  who  were  in  the  most  favored  position, 
had  forged  ahead,  but  crouched  irresolute  in  the 
hail  of  bullets  that  assailed  them  from  the  ridge. 

It  was  the  critical  moment  when  victory  and  re- 
pulse were  balanced.  "  Follow  me.  Rifles  !  Sustain 
our  reputation !  "  shouted  Colonel  Gunning  as  he 
sprang  up  and  led  on  the  slow  cruel  charge 
against  the  almost  perpendicular  cliff.  The  gallant 
colonel  fell  riddled  with  bullets,  but  the  Rifles 
swarmed  over  his  body,  fixing  bayonets  as  they 
climbed.  Captain  Pechell  stood  erect  to  cheer  them 
on,  and  fell  shot  through  and  through.  The  company 
officers  also  suffered  severely,  and  thirteen  in  the 
Rifles  alone  were  down  ere  the  summit  was  reached. 
The  Fusiliers,  too,  were  sweeping  upward,  though 
three-fourths  of  their  officers  had  fallen.  For  a 
breathing-spell  the  line  halted  below  the  immediate 
crest ;  then  with  loud  cheers  the  troops  surged  over 
against  the  enemy. 

The  Boers  had  held  their  ground  grimly,  shooting 
from  their  rocky  shelters  until  they  saw  the  glint  of 
steel  coming  toward  them ;  then  with  shouts  of 
terror  they  dropped  their  rifles,  dashed  down  the 
rear  of  the  hill  to  their  horses,  and  away.  Majuba 
was  reversed ! 

The  rout  was  complete,  the  Transvaal  vierJcleur 
and  Meyer's  standard  flapped  disconsolately  over  the 

99 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

bodies  of  Melt  Marais,  Sassenberg,  the  Hollander 
Bergermaan,  and  forty  dead,  —  a  gruesome  tribute  to 
the  dearly  bought  victory.  Behind  the  position  lay 
the  Boer  laager  and  seventy-one  abandoned  wounded. 
The  burghers  quickly  hoisted  white  flags  over  their 
wagons  in  the  valley,  and  the  British  bugles  imme- 
diately sounded  "  Cease  fire  !  "  Under  cover  of  this 
the  Boers  galloped  madly  away,  escaping  the  volleys 
which  might  have  been  poured  from  the  captured 
hilltop.  A  field  battery  had  galloped  round  the 
flank  and  also  menaced  the  line  of  retreat  when  the 
"  Cease  fire !  "  rang  out.  With  tacit  if  Long  Valley 
obedience  the  eager  gunners  fell  back  from  their 
pieces  rather  than  risk  violation  of  an  armistice,  and 
while  the  officers  rode  madly  over  to  obtain  permis- 
sion to  reopen  fire  the  Boers  galloped  "  across  the 
guns  "  and  disappeared  among  the  hills.  The  white 
flag  cannot  cover  retreat,  and  the  Germans  in  France 
fired  on  it  on  more  than  one  occasion  when  only 
isolated  groups  retreated  from  surrendered  forces, 
even  as  they  executed  all  civilians  bearing  arms 
against  them. 

Just  before  the  supreme  moment  at  Talana,  Boer 
commandoes  were  reported  moving  down  the  Dann- 
hauser  Road  against  the  other  side  of  Dundee, 
where  they  expected  to  carry  the  town  under  cover 
of  the  battle.  The  Leicesters  and  the  67th  Battery- 
marched  out  and  turned  them,  and  they  fell  back 
in  confusion  as  Meyer's  force  retreated. 

100 


Capture  of  the  Hiissars^  ^'^.  ^>  i'>'  ^' 

The  18tli  Hussars  and  mounted  infantry  were 
covering  the  flanks.  Colonel  MoUer  led  one 
squadron  with  the  mounted  Fusiliers  to  the  north- 
west: Major  Knox,  namesake  of  the  regiment's 
first  colonel,  with  his  squadron  and  the  Rifles, 
moving  out  to  menace  the  other  flank.  Major 
Marling  took  a  third  squadron  beyond  Talana's 
connecting  nek,  and  by  acting  as  a  screen  misled 
and  checked  a  column  from  Newcastle  sent  to  re- 
inforce by  Erasmus.  Moller  and  Knox  both  suc- 
ceeded in  working  round  Meyer's  flank,  and 
harassed  his  retreat  for  some  distance.  But  they 
were  in  turn  cut  off  by  the  reinforcing  column  as 
it  followed  Meyer,  and  became  heavily  engaged  on 
three  sides.  Knox  by  a  long  detour  managed  to 
disengage  his  squadron,  but  the  remainder  of  the 
Hussars  and  the  mounted  infantry  with  Colonel 
Moller,  Major  Greville,  and  seven  other  officers 
were  surrounded  by  a  force  ten  times  their  su- 
perior, when  attempting  to  save  a  disabled  Maxim, 
and  after  a  stout  resistance  they  were  forced  to 
surrender. 

The  18th  had  laid  a  wager  that  they  would  be 
the  fii'st  into  Pretoria;  they  rapidly  won  it,  and 
facetious  "  Tommy "  has  now  dubbed  them  the 
Pretoria  Horse. 


101 


CHAPTER  V 

Elandslaagtb. —  TiNTWA  Inyoni.  — Yule's  Retirement. — 
Pepworth  Hill.  —  Ladysmith  Invested. 

General  Koch,  keeper  of  the  executive  min- 
utes with  the  right  wing  of  Joubert's  army,  had 
moved  down  the  Biggarsberg  Pass  to  cut  com- 
munications between  Symons  and  White,  and  on 
October  19  occupied  Elandslaagte  station,  six- 
teen miles  beyond  Ladysmith.  The  Dundee  ex- 
press had  just  arrived  when  the  advance  guard 
under  Veldt  Cornet  Pienaar  entered  the  village. 
The  burghers  galloped  into  the  depot  to  seize  the 
train,  and  swarmed  over  the  tracks,  but  the  engi- 
neer sprang  to  the  foot-plate,  and  amid  a  warm 
fusillade  the  express  ploughed  through  its  captors 
and  away  to  Dundee,  leaving  Noel,  the  guard,  and 
several  astonished  passengers  on  the  platform.  The 
station-master  managed  to  telegraph  Ladysmith 
that  the  station  was  captured,  before  he  was  de- 
tected, narrowly  escaping  summary  execution  for 
his  temerity. 

Greatly  enraged,  the  Boers  made  prisoners  of 
every  one  in  the  vicinity,  and  turning  the  points  to 
a  siding,  cleared  the  signal  for  the  local  train  tak- 

1Q2 


Elandslaagte 

ing  stock  and  provisions  to  Dundee.  The  en- 
gineer ran  his  train  unsuspectingly  over  the  switch, 
and  ere  he  could  reverse  the  lever  Boers  were 
swarming  on  board,  and  he  was  bound  and  im- 
prisoned. A  number  of  horses  and  cattle  en  route 
for  Symons  were  captured,  and  the  freight  cars 
systematically  looted. 

The  Boer  vanguard  took  possession  of  Elandslaagte 
during  the  afternoon.  The  column,  1,900  strong,  was 
formed  by  the  Krugersdorp  and  Johannesburg  com- 
mandoes, the  latter  including  the  Hollander  Vrywil- 
liger  Corps.  Attached  were  300  Free  Staters  and  a 
German  contingent  80  strong  under  Colonel  Schiel, 
with  three  guns  and  an  ambulance  under  Visser.  The 
Johannesburg  commando  under  Dr.  Coster,  a  talented 
Holland  lawyer,  and  De  Witt  Hamer,  an  ex-Nether- 
land  officer,  represented  the  education  and  culture 
of  the  Transvaal :  it  comprised  the  officials  and  pro- 
fessional men  of  the  republic,  significantly  the  vast 
majority  of  foreign  birth.  Officers  with  Koch  were 
his  son,  Judge  Koch,  notorious  in  the  Edgar  case, 
Landdrost  Mare  of  Boksburg,  the  public  prosecutor 
Von  Leggelo,  Count  Zipplein,  Ben  Viljoen,  Boden- 
stein  of  Krugersdorp  fame,  Pretorius,  Vander-Welde, 
and  many  other  prominent  officials. 

The  force  first  rounded  up  the  British  subjects  in 
the  vicinity.  Mr.  Harris,  the  manager  of  the  Elands- 
laagte mines,  anticipating  the  advance,  had  buried  his 
blasting-powder  and  ammunition.     With  Mr.  Innes, 

103 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

the  proprietor,  and  forty  mine  workers  he  was  made 
prisoner  and  the  cash  of  the  mine  commandeered. 

The  prisoners  were  placed  in  charge  of  Pienaar,  who 
said  that  the  people  in  Natal  had  fled  as  though  the 
Boers  were  barbarians.  "  He  hoped  they  would  prove 
to  the  contrary."  In  the  evening  captors  and  captives 
held  an  impromptu  smoking  concert  in  the  hotel 
parlor.  Many  of  the  burghers  were  drunk  and  fought 
among  themselves,  but  if  there  was  little  discipline 
in  their  ranks  there  was  an  individuality  that  acted 
for  a  general  purpose  of  defence,  and  guards  were 
posted  and  pickets  thrown  out  with  the  regularity 
of  a  trained  force. 

On  the  following  morning,  after  Koch  had  selected 
the  most  advantageous  positions  in  the  vicinity,  he 
opened  an  examination  of  all  prisoners,  which  he  con- 
ducted with  gravity  while  devouring  mutton  chops 
in  his  fingers,  smoking  his  pipe,  and  expectorating 
between  mouthfuls. 

The  burghers  amused  themselves  during  the  after- 
noon by  dressing  up  in  British  uniforms  captured  on 
the  train.  Many  of  them  had  been  drinking  heavily 
from  looted  liquor,  and  some  strove  to  pick  a  quarrel 
with  the  unarmed  prisoners.  Pienaar  intervened, 
and  calling  in  a  guard  of  more  sober  burghers  kept 
the  threatening  roysterers  outside. 

In  the  midst  of  the  carousal  a  patrol  galloped  in 
shouting,  "  Booineks  are  coming !  "  In  five  minutes 
every  Boer  had  saddled  up  and  the  commando  was 

104 


Elandslaagte 

riding  over  the  veldt  to  the  selected  position.  But 
the  attack  did  not  develop. 

When  Koch  had  severed  communications  between 
Dundee  and  Ladysmith  he  had  forgotten  that  a  wire 
also  ran  via  Helpmaaker  to  Maritzburg,  and  Symons 
was  thus  able  to  inform  White  of  his  victory  and 
the  force  blocking  direct  communications.  General 
French,  who  had  only  arrived  from  England  on  the 
previous  day,  was  at  once  sent  out  from  Ladysmith  to 
make  a  reconnaissance  in  force.  In  a  pouring  rain  the 
mud  had  severely  retarded  his  artillery  and  infantry, 
but  the  cavalry  advanced  to  the  flag  station  at  Modder 
Spruit,  where  they  sighted  the  enemy  at  Elandslaagte. 
As  the  day  was  advancing  a  squadron  of  the  5th 
Lancers  pushed  forward  alone  to  reconnoitre.  They 
surprised  and  captured  a  Boer  outpost,  and  having 
located  the  enemy  fell  back,  and  the  whole  force 
returned  to  Ladysmith. 

The  Boer  patrol  that  had  first  reported  the  British 
advance  was  jeered  at  for  giving  a  false  alarm,  and 
Koch's  burghers  returned  to  camp.  The  evening  was 
spent  in  singing:  the  Boers  of  the  old  school,  the 
Transvaal  "Podsnaps,"  gathered  to  intone  doleful 
psalms,  while  the  younger  generation  crowded  the 
hotel  canteen,  drinking  and  joining  the  prisoners  in  a 
sing-song  "God  save  the  Queen"  and  "Rule 
Britannia,"  mingling  with  "  Wij  Leven  Vrij,"  "  Wil- 
helmus  van  Nassouwe,"  and  the  "  Volkslied." 

On  the  following  morning  (Saturday,  Oct.  21), 
105 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

scouts  again  announced  the  approach  of  the  British, 
and  the  commandoes,  rudely  awakened  by  a  couple  of 
shells,  thundered  half -dressed  to  the  kopjes  some 
distance  from  the  railroad,  leaving  their  British 
prisoners  in  the  village  with  a  small  guard,  which  a 
squadron  of  Light  Horse  later  surprised  and  forced 
to  change  roles. 

General  French  had  moved  out  at  daybreak  to 
make  a  further  reconnaissance,  with  a  company  of  the . 
Manchesters  in  an  armored  train,  the  Imperial  Light 
Horse  and  Natal  volunteer  battery  moving  by  road 
to  support.  Finding  Elandslaagte  strongly  occupied, 
the  battery  came  into  action  on  the  edge  of  a  table- 
land overlooking  the  settlement.  But  the  Boers 
manned  their  guns  with  surprising  rapidity,  and  the 
two  ranging  shots  of  the  German  gunners  under  Cap- 
tain Schultz  plumped  right  into  the  Colonials.  A  team 
was  doubled  up,  a  limber  smashed,  and  the  puny  Natal 
7-pounders  were  outranged  and  forced  to  withdraw. 

Shells  also  fell  round  the  train,  while  a  strong  force 
of  the  enemy  appeared  in  rear,  making  strenuous 
efforts  to  tear  up  the  line.  They  were  dispersed, 
however,  by  a  rapid  advance  of  the  Light  Horse,  and 
train  and  guns  retired  to  Modder  Spruit.  As  General 
French  took  a  final  survey  of  the  position,  a  pro- 
jectile was  neatly  dropped  into  the  midst  of  the  staff, 
though  a  tardy  time-fuse  burst  the  shell  after  it  was 
imbedded,  and  dirt  was  vomited  in  place  of  shrapnel 
bullets. 

106 


The  Battle  Opens 

At  Modder  Spruit,  the  telegraph  wire  was  tapped, 
and  French  was  soon  connected  with  White,  who 
promised  to  send  reinforcements  immediately  to 
attack  the  enemy.  At  midday  Colonel  King  arrived 
at  the  front  with  the  5th  Lancers.  The  21st  and 
42d  Field  Batteries  galloped  out  with  augmented 
teams,  and  a  squadron  of  5th  Dragoons  and  the  Natal 
mounted  volunteers.  Escorted  by  the  armored  train, 
half-battalions  of  the  Manchester  and  Devonshire 
regiments  arrived  by  rail.  Later,  half  of  the  Gordon 
Highlanders  and  the  remainder  of  the  Devons 
detrained. 

The  cavalry  found  strong  Boer  pickets  on  a  long 
ridge  running  almost  due  east  and  west  beyond 
Modder  Spruit,  but  after  desultory  skirmishing  these 
outposts  fell  back.  At  3  p.  M.  the  infantry  advanced 
over  a  hill  to  the  right  of  the  railroad,  the  artillery 
and  cavalry  passing  round  on  either  flank.  Beyond, 
a  green  sloping  valley  led  up  to  a  long  hogs'-back, 
steep  and  rocky,  with  a  mass  of  boulders  piled  inde- 
scribably at  the  base,  and  a  stubborn  succession  of 
rock-strewn  ridges  on  the  frowning  face. 

As  the  British  appeared  on  the  high  ground  the  flash 
of  the  opening  guns  revealed  the  main  position  of  the 
enemy,  who  were  intrenched  on  a  rounded  eminence 
rising  from  the  extremity  of  the  hog's-back,  and  along 
the  nek  that  joined  the  mamelon  to  a  succeeding 
kopje,  also  strongly  occupied.  The  position  was  ideal 
for  the  Boer  system  of  defence.     A  frontal  attack 

107 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

could  be  met  by  frontal  and  oblique  fire,  and  the  diffi- 
cult approaches  to  both  flanks  were  commanded,  — 
the  broken  kopjes  on  the  right,  and  the  rock-strewn 
ridge  of  the  hog's-back  along  which  any  turning 
movement  on  the  left  flank  must  come. 

On  the  extreme  left  the  Lancers,  Light  Horse,  and 
Natal  volunteers  had  cleared  out  a  flanking  party  of 
Boers  skulking  behind  a  wall,  and  then  became  en- 
gaged with  the  Free  State  commando  with  Maxims, 
which  were  soon  silenced  by  carbine  fire,  the  party 
retiring  half-heartedly,  one  of  their  deserters  saying 
that  they  were  commandeered  in  an  unwilling  war, 
and  did  not  mean  to  fight  a  traditional  friend  for 
Kruger  and  Steyn.  This  commando  did  nothing  fur- 
ther to  aid  their  Transvaal  brothers. 

The  Boer  artillery  then  commenced  to 'shell  the 
deploying  infantry,  until  the  21st  Battery  galloped 
into  action,  and  after  sustaining  some  loss  in  a  duel 
of  seven  minutes'  duration,  silenced  the  guns  at  2,800 
yards.  The  42d  Battery  also  heavily  shelled  the  po- 
sition preparatory  to  the  infantry  attack.  A  heavy 
thunder-storm  was  raging  during  the  initial  evolu- 
tions, and  since  the  evening  promised  to  come  in 
early  gloom,  the  artillery  preliminaries  were  curtailed 
to  enable  the  infantry  assault  before  dark. 

The  Lancers,  Light  Horse,  and  Natal  volunteers 
with  their  battery,  covered  the  right  flank,  where  the 
Manchesters,  supported  by  the  Gordons,  clambered 
up  the  hog's-back  to  advance  down  the  ridge  on  the 

108 


Battle  of  Elandslaagte 

flank.  The  Devons  moved  against  the  direct  front, 
with  the  Dragoons  and  volunteers  on  the  extreme 
left.  Sir  George  White  arrived  on  the  field  at  4  p.m., 
but  magnanimously  refused  to  take  over  the  com- 
mand from  his  subordinate,  and  the  honors  of  the 
day  rest  with  French.  The  infantry  were  under  the 
personal  direction  of  Colonel  Ian  Hamilton,  a  sur- 
vivor of  Majuba. 

The  British  guns  had  pounded  the  enemy  heavily 
with  shrapnel,  and  the  plucky  attempts  of  the  German 
gunners  to  reopen  were  unsuccessful ;  but  the  shower 
of  shells  did  not  apparently  lessen  the  terrific  rifle- 
fire  that  was  poured  into  the  valley.  At  4.45  the 
Devons  advanced  in  extended  order,  meeting  a 
withering  fire  with  great  steadiness  as  they  pressed 
over  the  broken  ground.  Major  Park  extended 
three  companies  into  a  firing  line  of  500  yards, 
about  1000  yards  from  the  enemy.  They  obtained 
some  shelter  among  the  sunbaked  ant-hills  in  places, 
and  "  dead  ground "  saved  two  companies  from 
annihilation. 

The  Boers  missed  the  red  coats  of  the  British 
army  and  found  the  new  fangled  khaki  a  difficult 
target,  but  their  bullets  swept  a  large  zone.  Major 
Currie  with  the  reserves  threw  men  rapidly  forward 
to  replace  casualties,  and  then  augmented  the  firing 
line,  which  crept  slowly  to  within  800  yards  of  the 
enemy.  Laxity  in  the  British  territorial  system  may 
have  placed  sons  of  Cork  and  London  in  the  Devon 

109 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

ranks,  but  as  the  regiment  lay  exposed  to  a  gall- 
ing fire,  engaging  the  front  while  the  flank  attack 
developed,  they  well  sustained  the  reputation  of  the 
"  countrie  "  of  the  Leighs  and  Ridds. 

Meanwhile  the  Manchesters  and  Gordons  had  suc- 
ceeded in  scrambling  up  the  hog's-back.  They  were 
joined  by  the  Uitlander  Light  Horse,  who  voluntarily 
dismounted  and  joined  in  the  charge.  Many  of  these 
men  had  settled  permanently  on  the  Rand,  and  had 
lost  their  all  when  expelled  by  Kruger;  theirs  in- 
deed was  a  fight  for  home  and  liberty,  in  the  country 
of  their  adoption,  while  wives  and  children  were 
homeless  and  destitute. 

Though  these  forces  were  at  first  covered  by  a  dip 
leading  to  the  main  plateau,  a  withering  fire  swept 
the  entire  length  of  the  ridge  as  they  poured  over  the 
boulders  on  the  crest.  A  thousand  yards  beyond 
them  rose  the  mamelon,  an  objective  that  com- 
manded every  step  of  the  advance  along  the  hill- 
top. In  face  of  that  fire,  with  their  path  strewn  with 
rocks  slippery  with  rain  and  hail,  and  successive 
barbed  fences  barring  the  way,  a  superior  force  was 
to  be  assaulted  in  an  intrenched  position.  Many 
young  soldiers'  faces  blanched,  but  there  was  no 
hesitation. 

For  sentimental  reasons,  the  Highlanders  had  re- 
tained their  sporrans  and  kilts,  which  made  them  a 
distinct  mark  for  the  enemy :  sentiment  contributed 
many  widows  and  orphans  to  the  banks  and  braes  of 

110 


Battle  of  Elandslaagte 

Scotland  ere  the  day  was  done.  At  first  the  Gordons 
were  in  support,  but  owing  to  the  irregularity  of  the 
ground  to  be  traversed,  regiments  and  companies 
became  mixed  and  the  movement  evolved  into  a 
retarded  but  eager  race  forward.  Scrambling,  slip- 
ping, crouching,  from  rock  to  rock,  firing  individu- 
ally or  in  volleys  of  mutual  agreement,  Gordons, 
Manchesters,  and  Light  Horse  fought  their  way  on. 
Men  were  swept  away  as  they  clambered  across  the 
ridges,  but  the  others  went  over  the  prostrate  bodies. 

The  Tommies  now  were  fighting  mad,  and,  paying 
little  heed  to  the  dead  and  wounded,  they  pressed 
recklessly  onward;  the  individuality  of  the  soldier 
was  in  the  ascendent  and  it  was  not  found  wanting. 

Two-thirds  of  the  distance  passed  —  two-thirds  of 
the  officers  down.  A  stout  barbed  fence  checked 
the  advance  ;  the  Boers  stood  up  fearlessly  and  blazed 
into  the  serried  mass  of  men,  but  dropped  to  cover 
again  as  the  obstacle  was  surmounted  and  the 
uncontrollable  wave  of  khaki  swept  toward  them. 
Of  the  Gordons,  Colonel  Cunyngham  and  Major 
Wright  went  down  early  in  the  fight,  and  of  the 
other  officers  but  four  were  left  to  lead  the  regiment, 
toward  the  finish,  and  two  of  these,  subalterns,  were 
wounded.  The  Manchesters  had  lost  their  colonel 
and  many  officers  and  men. 

Colonel  Scott^Chisholme  of  the  Light  Horse  was 
next  wounded ;  raising  himself  to  cheer  on  his  men, 
he  sank  again  with  two  bullets  in  his  brain.     Major 

lU 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Sampson,  the  ex-reformist,  and  eight  other  volunteer 
officers  had  also  fallen  at  this  juncture.  But  the  de- 
pleted forces  were  close  in  now,  and  fixed  bayonets. 

In  desperation  the  Boers  pumped  their  red-hot 
Mausers  at  point-blank  range  and  cried  in  English, 
"  Retire ! "  A  treacherous  bugle  also  sounded  the  order, 
and  the  panting  soldiers  halted  irresolute  in  the  con- 
fusion of  the  battle  and  the  gathering  darkness.  The 
last  note  was  faulty,  but  the  men  were  wavering  and 
the  enemy's  fire  was  redoubled.  "  Charge  !  charge  ! 
for  God's  sake,  charge  !  "  shouted  Major  Denne  of  the 
Gordons,  springing  in  the  lead  and  sinking  limply, 
shot  through  the  heart.  Drum-major  Laurence  dash- 
ing forward  sounded  the  charge  and  rally.  Pipe- 
major  Dunbar  strode  over  the  rocks  skirling  the 
Gordon  pibroch.  He  soon  fell,  but  the  troops  had 
rallied,  and  with  a  loud  cheer  the  first  position  was 
rushed. 

Advocate  Coster  was  killed  as  he  attempted  to 
gather  his  Hollanders,  and  other  Boer  leaders  fear- 
lessly exposed  themselves,  exhorting  the  burghers  to 
stand;  but  nothing  could  stay  the  onslaught  of  the 
British.  A  line  of  devoted  burghers  fired  to  the 
last,  but  they  were  flung  back  before  the  charge  like 
tennis-balls,  and  there  was  no  rebound. 

The  Devons'  bugles  in  the  valley  were  now  ring- 
ing cheerily,  their  long  checked  impetuosity  was 
loosed,  and  with  fixed  bayonets  they  dashed  up  the 
front  of  the  position.     Pandemonium  reigned  for  a 

112 


Battle  of  Elandslaagte 

minute.  There  was  a  rush  of  kilt  and  khaki;  the 
enemy  on  the  mamelon  resisted  stoutly,  but  amid  the 
rattle  of  their  magazine  fire,  rallying  cries  in  Taal, 
British  cheers  of  exultation  and  the  yells  and  screams 
of  the  wounded,  the  Devons  closed  in  on  the  front,  and 
the  flanking  battalions  swept  the  Boers  from  the  nek 
with  bayonets  and  butt-end. 

F  Company,  the  Devons,  under  Lieutenant  Field, 
went  straight  at  the  guns.  Three  German  gunners, 
enfants  jperdus^  sprang  to  the  pieces  and  prepared  to 
fire  into  the  British  ranks  as  the  Hollanders  turned 
and  fled  down  the  hill.  One  gunner  fell  befca-e 
Field's  revolver  as  these  devoted  soldiers  of  fortune 
loaded,  another  was  shot  as  he  prepared  to  fire,  and 
the  third  was  bayonetted  as  the  Devons  swept  in. 
Mercenaries?     Yes,  but  brave  men. 

Struggling,  stumbling  down  the  hillside,  the  Boers 
fled  pell-mell,  some  screaming  with  terror  in  their  mad 
efforts  to  escape  the  cold  steel.  Their  horses  were 
tethered  in  the  laager  below,  and  as  the  seething  mass 
of  burghers  ran  toward  them  the  slaughter  would 
have  been  terrible  had  the  British  disregarded  the 
white  flag.  Highlanders  and  Manchesters  had  swept 
down  toward  the  laager  to  complete  the  rout,  on  the 
hill  other  companies  were  refilling  their  emptied 
magazines  to  mow  down  the  fugitives,  when  a  large 
white  flag  was  hoisted  over  the  wagons.  Dozens  of 
Boers  also  were  holding  up  their  hands,  and  another 
flag  waved  frantically  on  the  further  kopje.  From 
8  113 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

tents  behind  which  the  horses  were  tethered,  a  Red 
Cross  flag  was  displayed.  Significantly  the  enemy 
had  screened  their  means  of  retreat  by  the  Geneva 
convention. 

Colonel  Hamilton  and  his  staff  rushed  in  front  of 
their  men  and  ordered  them  to  stop  firing ;  the  bugles 
rang  out  the  "  Cease  fire  ! "  "  They  surrender !  they 
surrender !  "  shouted  the  eager  soldiers  as  they  lowered 
their  rifles  and  started  across  the  open ;  then  a  wither- 
ing fire  burst  on  them  from  the  further  kopje,  a  ridge 
behind  the  nek,  and  from  the  laager  itself,  mowing 
down  the  exposed  men  in  dozens.  The  "  surrendered  " 
burghers  reached  their  horses  and  rode  off  in  the  con- 
fusion, as  the  enraged  soldiers  fell  back  to  cover  with 
heavy  loss.  After  replying  to  the  renewed  volleys, 
they  again  rushed  in  with  the  bayonet,  clearing  the 
remaining  position  and  ending  resistance.  Under 
the  laws  of  war  the  Boers  had  violated  the  white  flag 
and  deserved  no  mercy.  I  do  not  think,  however, 
that  the  subterfuge  was  prearranged.  The  individ- 
uality of  the  burghers  rather  condones  the  apparent 
treachery,  though  after  Dundee  and  Elandslaagte  the 
British  could  not  have  been  blamed  had  they 
adopted  similar  tactics,  or  disregarded  the  white  flag 
as  indicating  surrender. 

Daylight  now  faded  rapidly,  but  the  cavalry 
who  had  been  champing  impatiently  on  the  flanks 
had  ridden  round  the  hill  when  they  heard  the 
cheers  of  victory,  and  a  rush  of  horsemen  through 

114 


Aftermath  of  the  Battle 

the  gathering  night  told  them  their  turn  had  come. 
As  the  Boers  galloped  madly  toward  Wesset's  Nek, 
from  the  reverse  of  the  captured  position  a  clatter 
of  hoofs  and  scabbards  burst  on  their  frightened 
ears.  They  turned  and  fired  as  they  rode,  but  the 
heavier  British  cavalry  bore  them  to  the  earth, 
going  through  and  through  the  disorganized  ranks 
with  lance  and  sabre  until  the  commandoes  were 
scattered  and  the  rout  complete. 

Pitch  darkness  reigned  on  the  battlefield  when 
the  bugles  sounded  the  rally,  and  company  officers 
vainly  strove  to  collect  their  forces.  "All  hands 
search  for  wounded  I "  The  worn-out  soldiers 
responded  with  alacrity.  Groans  and  cries  for 
help,  in  English  and  Taal,  arose  in  the  darkness. 
The  soldiers,  from  breathing  out  threatenings  and 
slaughter  against  the  Boers,  became  their  Good  Sa- 
maritans. "  Majuba  avenged ! "  had  been  their 
cheer  of  victory,  and  now  by  tending  the  wounded 
enemy  they  heaped  coals  of  fire  on  the  race  who 
in  '81  had  left  the  British  wounded  to  die  on  the 
veldt.  Tommy  Atkins,  to  those  who  know  him, 
is  like  a  big-hearted,  rough,  generous  schoolboy. 
His  solicitation  for  his  wounded  foe,  the  foe  whose 
pluck  he  had  now  learned  to  respect,  is  a  touch- 
ing tribute  to  the  British  private. 

On  the  hillside  Bennet,  Burleigh,  and  Nevinson, 
the   war  correspondents,   found   old   General   Koch 

115 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

mortally  wounded.  A  mattress  was  at  once  sent, 
and  as  he  was  too  ill  to  be  moved,  a  tarpaulin  was 
rigged  over  him.  Near-by  lay  his  son,  Judge  Koch, 
and  Count  Zipplein,  sorely  wounded.  De  Jong, 
of  the  Educational  Department,  and  Dr.  Coster 
were  among  the  killed.  Joubert's  grand-nephew 
and  many  of  the  prominent  officials  were  wounded 
severely.  Sixty-four  dead  Boers  were  found  on 
the  hill;  the  cavalry  charge  accounted  for'  as 
many  more.  Three  hundred  prisoners  were  taken, 
including  the  ex-German  officer  Schiel,  Von  Leg- 
gelo,  the  detective  De  Villiers,  Dewithaker  of  the 
Raad,  De  Witt  Hamer,  Figulus,  young  Cronje, 
Findall,  Wagner,  and  many  other  notables.  Of 
these  prisoners  one  third  were  wounded.  The  ag- 
gregate British  loss  was  247,  the  officers  in  large 
proportion.  The  Gordons  headed  the  list  with  a 
loss  of  26  per  cent  rank  and  file,  but  78  per  cent 
of  the  regimental  officers  had  fallen. 

The  worn-out  troops  formed  a  bivouac  in  the 
Boer  laager,  where  wagon-loads  of  loot  from  North 
Natal  were  recaptured,  with  the  arms  and  equip- 
ment of  an  entire  commando.  The  night  was  bit- 
terly cold,  and  a  heavy  rain  turned  the  ground 
into  a  swamp.  But  pouches  and  blankets  were 
cheerfully  relinquished  for  the  wounded,  Boer  and 
Briton,  and  four  Highlanders  were  lifted  from  the 
solitary  fire,  sustained  by  ration  boxes,  because 
four  Boers,  wounded  by  shrapnel,  "  needed  it  worse 

116 


2   I. 


Aftermath  of  the  Battle 

than  us."  Fresh  water  was  scarce  also,  and  gen- 
erous "  Tommy "  moved  among  the  wounded 
enemy  with  ''All  I've  got  left,  chum!"  and  many 
gave  up  the  chance  to  rest,  and  generously  aided 
Dr.  Davies  and  his  assistants  in  caring  for  the 
wounded.  Many  of  these  lay  among  the  rocks 
undiscovered  until  daylight,  some  unfortunately 
to  perish  from  exposure. 

Dr.  Bonnybrook  of  the  Colonial  service  and  Rev. 
A.  J.  Andrews,  chaplain  of  the  Natal  Rifles,  on 
Sunday  morning  followed  the  Boer  line  of  retreat 
for  seven  miles,  tending  those  who  had  fallen  by 
the  wayside  exhausted  from  wounds.  They  met 
twenty-five  armed  but  famished  burghers  who  ab- 
jectly surrendered  to  the  doctor,  believing  the 
Boer  cause  lost. 

All  the  wounded  were  taken  to  Ladysmith,  ac- 
commodation being  found  for  them  in  the  town- 
hall,  the  churches,  and  in  tents  on  the  cricket 
ground.  The  Boer  prisoners  were  sent  by  train 
to  Durban,  and  thence  shipped  to  Cape  Town. 

The  moral  effect  of  the  costly  victory  of  Elands- 
laagte  was  great.  From  henceforth  the  Boer 
learned  to  respect  the  British  soldier,  having  proved 
the  fallacy  of  his  contempt  engendered  at  Majuba 
and  Krugersdorp.  But  the  battle  gained  little 
material  benefit,  since  De  Wet's  command  moved 
in  and  occupied  the  town  two  days  later,  and 
fired    on    the     burial    party    sent    with     Inspector 

117 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

Petley  to  inter  the  British  and  Boer  dead,  driving 
them  back  to  Ladysmith.  Boer  character  is  com- 
plex ;  hospital  corps,  burial  detail,  all  are  rooineks, 
and  as  such  must  be  destroyed,  is  the  argument 
of  the  average  farmer.  But  after  a  strong  protest 
by  the  prisoner  Judge  Koch  to  Joubert,  the  in' 
terment  was  allowed. 

The  object  of  the  attack  at  Elandslaagte  to  reopen 
communications  with  Dundee  and  relieve  pressure 
on  that  side  was  but  partly  accomplished;  but  the 
trend  of  events  in  Natal  proved  how  shamefully 
ignorant  were  the  British  authorities  as  to  the  mili- 
tary strength  and  preparation  of  the  republics.  The 
mobilization  of  troops  at  Dundee,  so  near  the  border, 
had  furnished  a  plausible  excuse  to  the  Transvaal 
for  declaring  war.  Strategically  the  position  was 
of  small  importance,  and  its  communications  were 
menaced  from  the  Drakensberg  passes  the  moment 
the  Free  State  threw  in  its  lot  with  the  Transvaal. 
The  coal  fields  were  of  value  to  the  colony,  but 
so  greatly  had  the  initiative  of  the  enemy  been 
underrated  that  even  the  victories  of  Talana  Hill 
and  Elandslaagte  failed  to  justify  the  maintenance 
of  the  position. 

While  (reneral  French  was  assailing  Elandslaagte, 
and  the  Dundee  forces  were  resting  after  their 
victory,  the  main  Boer  forces  for  which  Meyer  should 
have  waited  before  risking  assault,   closed  in.      In 

118 


Retreat  of  the  Dundee  Column 

the  afternoon  a  40-pounder  commenced  to  shell  the 
camp  from  the  hills  north  of  Dundee.  General 
Yule,  who  had  succeeded  General  Symons,  despatched 
the  field  batteries  to  reply  to  the  gun,  but  other 
pieces  of  heavy  calibre  were  turned  against  them, 
and  they  accomplished  little  in  the  unequal  duel. 

At  sunset  the  troops  occupied  a  position  beyond  the 
town  prepared  to  withstand  a  night  attack,  but  they 
returned  to  camp  at  daybreak,  where  they  received 
the  cheering  news  of  the  Elandslaagte  victory. 
General  Yule  at  once  sent  his  cavalry  to  intercept 
fugitives  moving  down  the  Ladysmith  road.  The 
Hussars  became  engaged,  however,  with  a  fresh 
column,  and  retired  as  the  Boers  again  began  to 
shell  the  camp  and  town.  Erasmus  and  Vegan  had 
now  joined  Joubert,  and  scouts  reported  the  enemy 
in  force  and  closing  on  Dundee  on  all  sides.  The 
inhabitants  had  fled  to  Rowan's  farm,  remembering 
Boer  outrages  in  the  previous  war,  and  since  12,000 
Boers  were  now  menacing  3,000  British,  General 
Symons,  who  was  rapidly  sinking,  advised  Yule  to 
endeavor  to  save  the  command  from  annihilation 
by  retiring  to  Ladysmith,  leaving  him  and  the 
wounded  behind. 

It  was  finally  determined  to  retreat  by  a  circuitous 
route  via  Beith,  and  under  cover  of  the  night  the 
force  evacuated  camp,  leaving  lighted  candles  in  the 
empty  tents,  and  camp-fires  blazing  to  mislead  the 
Boers.     The  Rifles,  under  Major  Campbell,  acted  as 

119 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

the  advance  guard,  Colonel  Dartnell  of  the  Natal 
police  guiding  the  troops.  By  continuous  marching 
the  column  on  Monday  afternoon  reached  the  en- 
trance of  the  Waschbank  Pass,  through  which  the 
road  crosses  the  Biggarsberg  Range.  The  enemy 
was  known  to  be  in  the  vicinity,  and  surprise  here 
meant  annihilation.  A  spy  had  been  caught  helio- 
graphing  at  Inyiti,  but  apparently  his  message  mis- 
carried, and  after  a  short  halt  a  second  night-march 
brought  the  force  safely  through  the  defile  to  the 
Waschbank  River,  where  the  exhausted  troops  bivou- 
acked for  rest  on  Tuesday  morning. 

Joubert  did  not  discover  that  Yule  had  withdrawn 
through  his  faulty  picket  lines,  until  midday  on 
Monday.  He  then  detached  a  large  force  to  cut  off 
the  British  column  in  the  Biggarsberg.  Though 
his  advance  was  retarded  by  worn-out  infantry  and 
transport,  the  mobile  burghers  failed  to  overtake 
Yule,  until  his  force  had  reached  the  open  country 
beyond.  Here  the  Boers  showed  their  traditional 
hatred  of  fighting  out  of  cover,  and  did  not  attempt 
an  attack. 

Keen  anxiety  prevailed  in  Ladysmith  for  Yule's 
force.  Scouts  having  reported  a  strong  commando 
again  occupying  Elandslaagte,  White,  on  Tuesday, 
October  24th,  moved  out  toward  Modder  Spruit,  in- 
tending to  bivouac  near  the  cross-roads  to  facilitate 
Yule's  retirement.  His  force,  an  infantiy  brigade 
(2d  King's  Royal   Rifles,  Devons,  Gloucesters,  and 

120 


Battle  of  Tinta  Inyoni 

Liverpools)  supported  by  the  42d  and  53d  Field  and 
10th  Mountain  Batteries,  R.  A.,  the  5th  Lancers, 
19th  Hussars,  Imperial  Light  Horse,  and  Natal  Rifles, 
4500  in  all,  halted  at  Modder  Spruit  at  8  A.  m.  The 
enemy  developed  in  force  at  Rietfontein,  however, 
menacing  the  direct  road  to  Dundee,  and  the  Beith 
route  on  the  line  of  Yule's  march.  They  disclosed 
their  main  position  on  Mattowan  Hoek  by  dropping 
shells  into  a  resting  battery  on  the  Newcastle  road. 

The  British  gunners  rapidly  came  into  action  be- 
yond the  railroad,  and  though  well-ranged  shell  from 
the  hill  inflicted  some  loss  on  the  artillery  and 
cavalry,  the  Boer  guns  were  soon  pounded  into' 
silence.  The  enemy  presented  an  irregular  front  on 
the  steep  sides  of  the  Tinta  Inyoni  and  Mattowan 
Hoek,  along  the  connecting  nek,  and  among  the 
broken  kopjes  and  ridges  at  the  base  of  the  hills. 
The  old-fashioned  farmers  of  the  Heidelberg  and 
Potchefstroom  commandoes  under  De  Wet,  had  dis- 
carded the  Mauser  with  contempt,  crediting  the  new- 
fangled rifle  with  the  previous  defeats.  Crouching 
behind  the  innumerable  boulders  over  the  wide 
hillsides,  with  unerring  Martini-Henrys,  they  sus- 
tained an  effective  individual  fire,  making  a  difficult 
and  extended  target  despite  the  smoke  from  their 
cartridges. 

With  the  batteries  the  Liverpools  and  Gloucesters 
advanced  in  extended  order  against  a  high  ridge 
facing  the  hills,  driving  back  the  enemy  from  the 

121 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

outlying  positions.  The  Devons  were  in  support, 
the  Rifles  moving  over  to  the  left  flank,  where 
the  Light-Horse  were  heavily  engaged  early  in  the 
battle.  The  regular  cavalry  cleared  a  commando 
out  of  the  valley  on  the  right,  that  was  waiting  to 
assail  the  British  rear  guard,  and  forced  them  back 
to  Mattowan,  the  53d  battery  heavily  shelling  the 
fugitives  as  they  retired  across  the  open.  The 
irrepressible  Colonials  on  the  extreme  flank  by 
Modder  Spruit  station  drove  in  the  enemy  on  that 
side.  This  combined  attack  caused  a  general  con- 
centration of  the  burghers  on  their  main  position  on 
the  higher  slopes  of  the  two  eminences,  and  on  a 
kopje  rising  from  the  nek  that  connected  them. 
Here  they  commanded  the  entire  British  line  from 
an  unassailable  position,  but  they  were  severely 
restricted  by  the  continuous  shower  of  shrapnel 
from  the  ridge  below. 

The  Devons  were  sent  forward  to  augment  the 
firing  line,  and  while  the  mountain  guns  shelled  the 
riflemen  swarming  among  the  boulders  on  Mattowan, 
the  53d  battery  raked  the  kopje  and  lower  ridges, 
the  42d  partially  silencing  a  terrific  but  individual 
rifle  fire  from  the  tall  summit  of  Tinta  Inyoni. 

An  assault  on  such  an  extensive  position  was 
beyond  question  for  White's  slender  forces.  Even 
had  the  single  brigade  successfully  stormed  the 
mountainous  eminences,  the  enemy,  while  leaving 
enough  men  to  sustain  a  stout  resistance,  could  have 

122 


Battle  of  Tinta  Inyoni 

detached  a  force  sufficient  to  menace  the  guns  and 
break  communications  with  Ladysmith  until  the  wait- 
ing Free  Staters  had  advanced  from  their  passes 
against  the  town.  The  operations  also  were  planned 
only  to  clear  the  road  and  act  as  a  diversion  to  cover 
Yule's  retreat.  For  some  unexplained  reason,  how- 
ever, taking  advantage  of  the  slackened  firing,  the 
Gloucesters  swept  beyond  the  ridge  into  the  open. 
They  instantly  became  the  target  for  every  Boer 
rifle  in  range,  and  were  forced  to  fall  back  to  cover, 
leaving  Colonel  Wilford  and  a  tenth  of  their  num- 
ber on  the  field.  The  medical  staff,  though  exposed 
to  continuous  fire  from  the  indiscriminating  enemy, 
then  brought  in  the  wounded  successfully,  the 
Hindoo  dhoolie  carriers  behaving  with  conspicuous 
gallantry. 

Despite  recent  rains,  the  veldt  was  lit  by  bursting 
shrapnel  and  burned  fiercely  at  midday.  Boer 
resistance  then  gradually  subsided.  But  under 
cover  of  the  smoke  a  large  force  was  attempting  to 
work  round  the  extreme  flank  to  cut  off  White 
from  Ladysmith,  and  only  the  watchfulness  of  the 
Colonials  saved  the  British  from  an  awkward  devel- 
opment. The  Volunteers,  recalled  hurriedly  from 
the  Spruit,  cantered  round  sharply,  and  covered  by 
a  ridge  on  the  southern  end  of  the  valley  outflanked 
the  flankers  and  opened  with  carbine  and  Maxim. 
Assisted  by  the  Rifles  they  drove  the  enemy  back 
to  Tinta  Inyoni,  while   the  Liverpools   and  Devons 

123 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

extended,  encompassing  the  front  and  flanks  with  a 
thin  line. 

After  the  failure  of  their  counter  manoeuvre,  par- 
ties of  the  enemy  were  seen  retiring,  however.  Their 
fire  was  gradually  reduced  to  the  crackling  of  reso- 
lute sharpshooters  hiding  in  the  rocks,  until  at  2.30 
resistance  ended  and  the  fight  flickered  out.  White, 
having  received  definite  news  of  Yule,  then  with- 
drew his  forces,  and  occupied  salient  points  along 
the  line  of  retreat  of  the  Dundee  column.  Through 
faulty  communications,  the  Volunteers  were  left  on 
the  extreme  flank  and  were  heavily  engaged  by  the 
baffled  but  by  no  means  defeated  enemy.  They 
extricated  themselves  with  difficulty  and  retired  on 
Ladysmith. 

After  practically  continuous  service  night  and  day 
from  the  opening  of  Friday  morning's  fight  at  Dun- 
dee, Yule's  worn-out  force  was  preparing  to  bivouac 
on  the  Waschbank  River,  when  they  heard  the  guns 
open  at  Rietfontein.  The  mounted  troops  were  at 
once  despatched  to  attempt  to  take  the  Boers  in  rear, 
but  another  squadron  of  the  diminished  Hussars  was 
cut  off  and  surrounded,  though  after  continuous  fight- 
ing they  finally  reached  Ladysmith. 

Unfortunately,  a  heavy  storm  had  swelled  the  Sun- 
day River  to  a  torrent  that  the  column  could  not  cross. 
During  the  enforced  halt  the  commandoes  retiring 
from  the  Rietfontein  engagement  passed  perilously 

124 


The  Retreat  from  Dundee 

close  to,  but  without  discovering,  Yule's  camp,  where 
the  column  lay  sleeping  beneath  the  torrent  of  the 
opened  heavens.  The  British  pickets  wisely  held 
their  fire,  for  the  force  was  in  no  condition  for  a 
pitched  battle.  On  Wednesday  the  flood  had  sub- 
sided, and  the  column  crossed  the  river  with  the  loss 
of  a  single  wagon;  and  again  marching  the  entire 
night  to  get  beyond  the  mysterious  enemy,  Yule's 
advance  guard  was  soon  in  touch  with  the  Border 
Rifles.  The  rest  of  their  line  of  march  was  covered, 
and  they  reached  Ladysmith  on  Thursday  morning. 

Their  march  will  go  down  to  history.  Remember, 
without  a  square  meal  they  had  fought  on  Friday, 
marched  and  skirmished  on  Saturday,  passed  the 
night  and  Sunday  under  arms,  marched  all  Sunday 
night,  all  day  on  Monday,  with  but  a  short  rest 
before  another  march  through  Monday  night  and 
well  into  Tuesday  morning.  Then  part  of  the  force 
had  operated  against  the  enemy  toward  Rietfontein, 
others  performing  continuous  picket  duty  during  the 
stormy  bivouac  on  Tuesday  night,  when  fires  could 
not  be  lighted.  The  column  had  come  straight  on 
through  the  last  thirty-four  miles  of  mud  all  day  on 
Wednesday  and  through  Wednesday  night  well  into 
Thursday  morning,  when  they  reached  Ladysmith. 

The  soggy  soil  of  South  Africa  had  caked  round  their 
feet  and  legs,  adding  pounds  in  weight  to  each  step, 
retarded  a  hundredfold  by  the  suction  of  the  slough 
through  which  they  marched.     No  wonder  the  men 

125 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

moved  into  town  dejectedly,  until  the  frantic  cheers 
of  soldier  and  civilian  threw  spirit  into  the  lagging 
bodies  and  fire  into  the  bloodshot  eyes.  Their  heads 
were  then  thrown  proudly  up,  their  steps  became 
regulaj"  and  brisk,  and  they  swung  into  camp  as 
though  on  C.  O.'s  parade. 

Their  brother  "  Tommies  "  stood  by,  eager  to  help, 
and  as  the  "  dismiss  "  rang  out,  rifles  and  equipment 
were  seized,  and  the  haggard,  mudcaked  men  were 
dragged  off  by  their  delighted  comrades  to  a  hearty 
breakfast.  But  most  were  too  tired  to  eat ;  they  soon 
dropped  on  the  ground  in  sheer  weariness,  the  garri- 
son scraping  the  mud  from  the  hidden  putties  and 
removing  chafing  boots  from  feet  raw  as  beef  with 
much  marching. 

Not  until  midday  on  Monday,  had  the  Boers  dis- 
covered that  Dundee  was  evacuated.  During  the 
morning,  despite  the  flag,  they  dropped  shell  into 
the  field  hospital  among  the  abandoned  wounded. 
Erasmus  had  been  told  that  the  captured  wounded  of 
Meyer's  force  had  been  dragged  behind  the  British 
guns.  He  was  surprised  to  find  them  in  cots  side  by 
side  with  the  wounded  soldiers  he  had  so  brutally 
shelled.  At  midday  an  armed  party  galloped  into 
the  town,  abusing  the  few  townspeople  who  had 
remained,  and  seizing  horses  and  anything  that  took 
their  individual  fancy.  Mrs.  Weir,  one  of  the  Red 
Cross  nurses,  was  brutally  kicked  by  one  truculent 
brute. 

126 


Death  of  General  Symons 

Later  in  the  day  a  more  disciplined  detachment 
under  Zuderberg  arrived  and  hoisted  the  fourcolor 
over  the  court  house.  The  field  cornet  assured  the 
inhabitants  that  all  property  would  be  respected, 
but  he  must  commandeer  provisions  for  his  force. 
This  also  included  the  liquor  from  the  stores;  the 
burghers  were  soon  tipsy  and  out  of  hand,  and  a 
general  looting  of  the  town  started.  The  contents 
of  houses  and  stores  were  thrown  out  into  the  road, 
each  man  loading  his  horse  with  what  he  needed. 
Weighed  down  with  plunder  they  retired  at  sunset, 
passing  the  hospital  jeering  and  cursing  the  English. 

Within,  General  Symons  was  slowly  dying.  Prac- 
tically a  prisoner,  separated  from  the  command  he 
had  led  to  victory,  humiliated  by  the  Boer  mani- 
festations that  stirred  the  soldier  spirit  living  un- 
daunted in  the  maimed,  suffering  body,  his  last 
moments  were  of  pathetic  interest.  At  home  the 
whole  country  was  applauding  his  gallant  fight ;  he 
lay  dying  in  the  enemy's  hands.  As  the  sun  was 
setting,  with  the  cries  of  the  burghers  ringing  in  his 
ears,  the  brave  soldier  died  as  he  had  lived. 

When  the  looters  disappeared  a  guard  of  stolid  old 
burghers  took  charge  of  the  town,  a  magistrate  was 
appointed,  and  order  enforced.  General  Symons  was 
buried  next  morning  in  the  little  English  church- 
yard. The  Rev.  Mr.  Bagley  held  a  short  service,  but 
"  not  a  drum  was  heard,  nor  a  funeral  note ;  not  a  sol- 
dier discharged  a  farewell  shot."     The  body,  shrouded 

127 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

in  a  Union  Jack  that  had  escaped  the  enemy's 
notice,  had  but  few  mourners,  medical  officers  and 
civilians,  and  a  few  respectful  burghers,  but  a  nation's 
sympathy  has  gone  out  to  that  lonely  grave  in  Africa, 
and  though  little  he  recks  it,  the  laurels  of  a  nation's 
gratitude  rest  on  the  tomb.  A  touch  of  nature  makes 
the  world  akin.  Brave  old  Joubert,  when  he  found 
a  cabled  message  from  Lady  Symons  among  the 
General's  papers,  at  once  sent  a  despatch  expressing 
his  sympathy  to  the  widow. 

In  the  afternoon  the  residue  of  Meyer's  defeated 
force  returned  to  the  town,  bursting  with  revenge  for 
their  defeat  of  Friday.  The  Boer  town  guard  was 
impotent,  the  looting  of  the  stores  was  completed; 
the  burghers  drank  up  a  quantity  of  liquor  they 
discovered,  and  assumed  so  threatening  an  attitude 
that  the  few  English  who  had  remained  in  the 
houses,  left  the  town.  Some  of  these  were  cap- 
tured, and  after  a  rough  mauling  and  the  sugges- 
tion of  summary  execution  to  save  trouble,  they  were 
dragged  off  as  spies  to  General  Meyer,  who  was 
camped  several  miles  away.  He  at  once  set  them 
at  liberty  with  apologies. 

But  loyalists  of  Dutch  extraction  who  refused  to 
join  the  Boer  forces  were  held  as  traitors.  One 
family,  the  Van  Liebenbergs,  noted  for  their  loyalty, 
were  seized  on  their  farm,  which  was  looted  and 
wrecked.  The  father  and  the  son  of  fifteen  were 
first  flogged,  then  sent  to  Pretoria.     The  wife  and 

128 


Investment  of  Ladysmith 

daughters  were  placed  in  their  wagon  and  isolated 
in  the  centre  of  the  Boer  commando,  closely  guarded 
night  and  day,  the  girls  being  frequently  insulted. 
They  were  then  turned  adrift  without  food,  leaving 
amid  a  shower  of  stones  with  notice  from  the  com- 
mandant to  clear  to  the  British  soldiers,  whose 
mistresses  they  were  only  fit  to  become.  This  pro- 
British  Dutch  lady  is  a  distant  connection  of  the 
Steyns. 

Over  three  hundred  fugitives,  many  of  them 
women  and  children,  had  fled  from  Dundee  as  the 
Boers  approached.  Travelling  in  constant  rain  and 
without  food  or  shelter,  they  suffered  terribly  on 
the  long  tramp  to  Ladysmith,  though  they  were  not 
molested  by  the  Boer  patrols.  Some,  however,  per- 
ished from  hunger  on  the  way,  and  many  were  saved 
from  absolute  starvation  by  British  scouting  parties, 
who  cheerfully  gave  up  their  scanty  rations. 

Having  failed  in  his  objective  at  Dundee,  Joubert 
led  his  entire  force  toward  Ladysmith,  the  Free 
State  commandoes  pouring  from  the  passes  to  assist 
in  the  investment.  General  White  found  his  now 
augmented  command  too  worn  to  strike  an  immediate 
blow  at  the  enemy.  He  has  been  severely  blamed 
for  not  using  his  cavalry  more  at  this  juncture,  but 
men  and  horses  were  utterly  exhausted,  and  required 
at  least  a  few  hours'  rest.  On  October  27th,  he  at- 
tempted to  draw  a  Transvaal  commando  located  at 
Lombard's  Kop,  but  the  enemy  who  held  Dewaal's 
9  129 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

farm  were  not  engaged  until  nearly  sunset.  He  biv- 
ouacked to  renew  the  attack  at  daybreak;  but  the 
Boers  withdrew  in  the  night,  under  Joubert's  explicit 
orders  not  to  risk  further  battle  until  the  forces  were 
completely  mobilized.  On  the  28th,  General  French 
made  a  reconnaissance  in  force  toward  Mount  Bul- 
whana,  which  in  every-day  parlance  means  that  he 
marched  out  to  surprise  the  enemy,  and  finding  the 
attack  impractical,  withdrew  with  information  more 
or  less  useful. 

On  Sunday,  the  29th,  Major  Heath  from  a  balloon 
located  the  enemy  busily  intrenching  on  Pepworth 
Hill,  placing  guns  on  its  flat  summit  to  bombard 
Ladysmith.  Reconnaissance  showed  that  fresh  com- 
mandoes had  occupied  other  hills  in  the  vicinity.  In 
their  stupendous  ignorance  of  Boer  resources,  the 
authorities  had  not  dreamed  of  the  complete  invest- 
ment of  Ladysmith,  and  they  had  little  numerical 
conception  of  the  invading  forces.  During  the  after- 
noon the  famous  "  Long  Tom "  commenced  to  shell 
the  town,  and  White  determined  to  assault  the  posi- 
tion at  daybreak,  hoping  with  his  entire  force  to  re- 
peat his  previous  successes. 

Scouts  having  reported  a  wide  gap  between  the 
Transvaalers  at  Pepworth  and  the  Free  Staters, 
Colonel  Carleton  with  the  1st  Gloucesters,  1st  Royal 
Irish  Fusiliers,  and  10th  Mountain  Battery  was  de- 
spatched on  Sunday  night  to  pass  between  the  two 
forces  in  the  darkness,  and  hold  a  hill  from  which 

130 


Disaster  of  Nicholson's  Nek 

the  Boer  line  of  retreat  would  be  threatened  and  the 
Free  Staters  kept  from  the  left  flank  of  the  main 
column. 

With  Major  Adye  of  the  staff,  the  little  column 
marched  out  at  10  P.  M.,  and  silently  wended  its  way 
in  the  darkness.  All  went  well  until  midnight, 
when  the  force  was  passing  through  a  narrow  rocky 
defile  near  their  objective.  Huge  boulders  here  sud- 
denly crashed  down  the  hillside  among  the  infantry. 

The  order  for  absolute  silence  on  the  march  was 
obeyed,  however;  the  column  halted,  and  the  com- 
mand to  lie  down  was  passed  in  whispers  along  the 
line.  The  halt  deceived  the  Boer  outposts  on  the 
cliffs  above,  and  mounting  their  horses  they  rode 
recklessly  down  the  steep  hillside,  blundering  right 
into  the  ammunition  mules.  With  shouts  of  terror 
they  spurred  their  way  through  and  disappeared  in 
the  night  ere  a  shot  could  be  fired,  but  startled  by 
the  sudden  disturbance  two  mules  reared  and  broke 
loose  from  their  native  drivers.  Most  of  these  usu- 
ally plucky  Cape  boys  dropped  their  reins  and 
bolted,  and  in  the  indescribable  fear  that  sometimes 
dominates  the  animal  breast,  battery  and  ammunition 
mules  burst  away  in  a  sudden  wild  stampede,  carry- 
ing the  guns,  shells,  and  rifle  ammunition  with  them. 

The  officers,  after  quieting  their  men,  admitted  the 
advisability  of  retiring;  but  since  this  would  have 
left  White's  left  unprotected,  hazarding  the  success  of 
his  attack,  they  finally  decided  to  go  on  and  do  what 

131 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

they  could.  The  force  without  guns  or  reserve  am- 
munition moved  over  toward  Nicholson's  Nek,  and 
seized  a  flat-topped  hill  and  ridge,  which  they 
rudely  strengthened  with  rough  breastworks  before 
daybreak. 

Two  hours  before  dawn,  the  main  columns  left 
Ladysmith,  the  7th  Brigade,  General  Hamilton,  com- 
prising the  1st  Devons,  1st  Manchesters,  2d  Gor- 
dons, and  the  newly  arrived  2d  Rifle  Brigade,  which 
detrained  from  Maritzburg  and  marched  straight  to 
battle,  moved  against  Pepworth  Hill  with  three  field 
batteries  and  the  Light  Horse.  The  right  column,, 
Colonel  Grimwood,  comprising  1st  Leicesters,  1st 
Rifles,  2d  Dublin  Fusiliers,  and  1st  Liverpools  with 
three  field  batteries,  and  the  Natal  volunteer  battery, 
moved  toward  Farquhar's  Farm.  The  cavalry  bri- 
gade. General  French,  and  the  mounted  infantry- 
operated  on  the  extreme  right  flank. 

The  Boer  "Long  Tom"  opened  the  fight  by  drop- 
ping a  shell  in  the  main  column,  on  the  Newcastle 
road.  The  heavy  Creusot  40-pound er  had  been 
mounted  on  Pepworth  Hill  with  stupendous  diffi- 
culty. It  was  guarded  only  by  a  small  commando 
under  De  Wet,  and  the  Irish- American  corps,  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Blake,  an  erratic  West  Pointer, 
and  composed  mainly  of  the  Rand  riff-raff  fighting 
under  a  green  table-cloth  bearing  the  imposing  legend 
"Remember  Michelstown. "  With  their  corps  was 
the  fiery  Major  McBride,  who  ran  for  member  of 

132 


Battle  of  Pepworth  Hill 

Parliament  in  his  borough  while  he  was  in  Africa 
bearing  arms  against  his  own  country.  These  three 
companies  of  adventurers  provided  Dr.  Leyds  with  a 
cue  for  his  assertion  that  three  thousand  Americans 
and  "thousands"  of  Irishmen  were  fighting  to  up- 
hold the  Transvaal  flag. 

Their  impetuous  invitation  to  battle  nearly  cost 
them  dearly.  The  picket  that  had  blundered  on 
Carleton's  column  had  reported  an  immense  force  of 
British  toward  Nicholson's  Nek,  which  caused  a  gen- 
eral diversion  of  the  Boers  from  Pepworth.  But  for 
the  arrival  of  Meyer's  force  on  the  right,  depleted 
by  their  defeat  at  Talana  and  subsequent  desertions, 
but  burning  to  retrieve  their  lost  prestige,  the  7th 
Brigade  would  have  ousted  the  Boer-Irish  force  from 
the  heights  and  captured  the  most  famous  gun  of  the 
republic. 

The  artillery  came  into  action  and  raked  the  crest, 
driving  the  gunners  from  their  piece,  and  wounding 
Blake,  while  the  infantry  drove  the  Boers  gradually 
back  against  the  base  of  the  hill.  Several  times 
"  Long  Tom  "  reopened  only  to  be  silenced  by  the 
puny  field-guns  below,  and  his  hours  seemed  num- 
bered as  the  infantry  closed  in.  Heavy  firing  at 
Nicholson's  Nek  showed  that  Carleton  was  covering 
the  left,  as  arranged,  and  De  Wet's  burghers  and  the 
alien  corps  looked  with  dismay  at  the  troops  advanc- 
ing against  them,  and  their  main  force  engaged 
elsewhere. 

133 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

The  British  right  had  found  the  enemy  at  Far- 
quhar's  farm,  when  Meyer's  column  augmented  by 
an  eight-gun  battery  of  the  Staats  artillery  arrived. 
The  guns  rapidly  came  into  action ;  while,  covered  by 
successive  kopjes,  the  Boer  riflemen  opened  at  deadly 
range  on  Grimwood's  left  flank.  The  Manchesters 
were  at  once  detached  from  the  centre  to  reinforce 
the  right,  but  at  this  juncture  other  commandoes 
moved  from  the  direction  of  Lombard's  Kop  against 
Grimwood's  right,  and  he  was  almost  enveloped. 

French's  cavalry  brigade  was  operating  far  on  the 
right,  and  dismounting  his  troopers  he  edged  in,  meet- 
ing this  advance  with  carbine  fire ;  but  the  squadrons 
were  almost  cut  off  from  their  horses,  and  Hamilton, 
leaving  only  one  battery  to  shell  Pep  worth,  was 
obliged  to  move  his  force  over  from  the  centre  to 
avert  disaster. 

By  accidental  strategy,  of  which  their  leaders  had 
promptly  taken  advantage,  the  Boers  had  been  en- 
abled to  deliver  effective  counter  attacks ;  their  rapid 
change  of  front  and  the  timely  arrival  of  reinforce- 
ments negatived  the  entire  British  plan.  Other 
commandoes  now  closed  in  with  Maxims  and  an 
automatic  quick-firer,  and  Grimwood's  brigade, 
greatly  outnumbered,  was  forced  to  retire  across  the 
open,  the  batteries  and  Hamilton's  brigade  covering 
the  movement. 

Another  practical  lesson  of  the  overwhelming  num- 
ber of  the   invading   Boers   was   furnished   at  this 

134 


00    ^ 

la  S: 


2  Qj 


Battle  of  Pepworth  Hill 

juncture,  when  a  despatch  was  delivered  to  White 
announcing  that  a  force  of  the  enemy  with  artillery 
was  menacing  Ladysmith  from  the  north.  The  com- 
mandoes that  had  been  led  toward  Bell's  Spruit,  by 
the  exaggerated  reports  of  Carleton's  column,  had 
assisted  in  overwhelming  this  small  and  handicapped 
command,  and  under  cover  of  the  main  action  had 
advanced  against  the  Ladysmith  outposts.  Reluc- 
tantly White  gave  the  order  for  a  general  retreat, 
the  enemy  pressing  close  the  moment  the  infantry 
fell  back. 

The  artillery  pluckily  held  their  ground  under 
a  terrific  fire  from  rifles  and  machine  and  field 
guns,  while  the  advance  battalions  retired  doggedly 
through  the  intervals  between  the  batteries.  But 
circling  round  the  kopjes  surrounding  the  valley, 
the  mobile  riflemen  pressed  forward  on  the  British 
flanks,  delivering  a  heavy  enfilade  fire.  It  was  first 
fight  for  most  of  them,  and  with  impetuosity  stirred 
by  the  British  retirement,  and  beautifully  covered  by 
their  guns  on  the  surrounding  hills,  they  ran  the 
tired  regiments  hard. 

Colonel  Coxhead  then  saved  the  day  with  the 
guns.  The  13th  and  53d  batteries  galloped  for- 
ward through  a  shower  of  projectiles,  and  faced  anni- 
hilation to  cover  the  retreat.  It  was  not  for  nothing 
that  the  13th  had  been  called  the  model  battery  at 
the  Okehampton  contest.  First  under  Flint,  then 
under  Lambard,  it  had  been  licked  into  shape  by  two 

185 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

of  the  best  gunners  in  the  army.  I  have  frequently 
heard  Lambard  say  that  his  detachments  and  drivers 
were  "fit  to  go  anywhere  and  fit  to  do  anything." 
He  was  denied  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  extreme 
test  of  his  training,  but  under  Dawkins  the  battery 
has  well  sustained  its  reputation,  the  53d  running 
it  a  dead  heat  for  bravery. 

Steadily,  as  on  parade,  the  gunners  hammered  the 
Boer  pursuit  until  the  burghers  were  checked.  The 
vicious  Vickers-Maxim,  however,  was  turned  against 
the  gunners'  flank  and  sent  a  rapid  stream  of  one- 
pound  shells  among  the  guns  until  it  was  fought  and 
temporarily  silenced  by  a  subdivision  of  the  53d. 

At  this  juncture  Joubert's  entire  army  had  closed  in 
to  harass  the  British  retirement,  and  the  two  light 
field  batteries  faced  them  and  checked  them  until 
the  column  was  safe,  and  then  retired  alternately, 
one  unlimbering  and  opening  fire  while  the  other  fell 
back  to  a  position  behind  it.  As  the  guns  of  the 
53rd  started  in  turn  to  retire,  the  phut-phut  gun  for 
a  minute  gained  steady  range  on  subdivision  6, 
killing  five  horses  out  of  the  gun  team.  The 
other  gunners  galloped  on,  looking  on  the  gun  as 
lost.  Boers,  swarming  over  the  broken  ground  on  all 
sides,  rapidly  spurred  in,  firing  heavily  from  the 
saddle ;  but  when  capture  seemed  imminent,  the  two 
limber  gunners  who  had  escaped  stood  by  the  trail- 
eye,  and  unlimbering  from  the  wreck,  hooked  the 
gun  to  a  wagon  limber  and  team  brought  back  by 

136 


White  Retires  to  Ladysmith 

Bombardier  Saunders,  and  the  piece  was  safely 
extricated. 

Another  gun  was  overturned  in  a  ditch,  the  team 
being  piled  up  indescribably.  Lieutenant  Higgins 
and  the  surviving  gunners  extricated  the  drivers, 
unhitched  and  untangled  the  team,  and  righted  the 
gun,  bringing  it  up  safely  at  a  gallop  amid  the  cheers 
of  their  comrades.  The  enemy,  covered  by  a  hedge, 
crawled  in  close,  and  delivered  a  severe  fire  during 
the  operation. 

The  nature  of  the  ground  enabled  the  Boers  to  fol- 
low the  retiring  columns  at  easy  rifle  range  without 
becoming  endangered  by  the  fire  of  their  own  artil- 
lery. But  news  of  the  defeat  had  already  reached 
Ladysmith,  where  the  naval  contingent  from  H.  M. 
S.  "  Terrible  "  had  just  detrained  from  Durban  with 
two  naval  quick  firers  which  had  been  placed  on  field 
mountings,  hurriedly  but  effectively  constructed  by 
Captain  Scott,  R.  N.  Lieutenant  Egerton,  unable 
to  obtain  transportation  for  the  guns,  rigged  drag- 
ropes,  and  his  men  hauled  the  heavy  pieces  to  meet 
the  force  and  cover  their  retirement. 

As  the  column  wound  over  the  rising  ground  lead- 
ing into  Ladysmith,  the  heavy  Boer  guns  again 
opened  accurately,  the  first  shot  blowing  an  am- 
bulance and  its  occupants  to  pieces.  But  to  the 
surprise  of  the  Boers,  religiously  supplied  with  in- 
formation respecting  the  army  by  disloyal  Natal 
Dutch,  successive  shells  from  guns  that  ranged  their 

137 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

own,  rapidly  silenced  "Long  Tom,"  and  drove  the 
Staats  gunners  from  their  Krupps,  scoring  at  least 
one  success  in  the  day  of  failure. 

Not  until  nightfall  did  Ladysmith  learn  of  the  fate 
of  the  devoted  regiments  which  had  faced  certain 
disaster  rather  than  jeopardize  the  success  of  the 
planned  attack.  After  an  anxious  night,  daybreak 
had  revealed  an  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy 
closing  in  on  them.  Unfortunately  the  position  on 
the  nek  that  Carleton  had  seized  in  the  darkness, 
was  commanded  by  neighboring  hills,  and  a  dropping 
fire  soon  raged  around  the  Gloucesters  and  Irish  from 
an  unseen  foe  lurking  among  the  rocks  above  and 
beyond  them.  For  a  time  the  fire  was  returned,  but 
ammunition  was  soon  exhausted.  The  little  force 
then  was  entirely  surrounded,  and  though  the  rap- 
idly thinning  ranks  waited  with  fixed  bayonets,  ex- 
pecting relief  from  the  centre,  the  location  of  the 
firing  soon  apprised  them  of  White's  retirement. 
Dead  and  wounded  were  piled  up  inside  the  ineffec- 
tual shelters,  but  the  men  grimly  held  their  ground, 
and  the  old  Boer  subterfuge  of  sounding  "Retire!  " 
to  lure  them  into  the  open,  failed  to  draw. 

Then  word  was  passed  along  the  line  that  the 
white  flag  was  raised  and  the  force  was  to  surren- 
der; and  Boers  rapidly  rode  toward  the  position,  sig- 
nalling the  men  to  lay  down  their  rifles.  There  was 
a  yell  of  defiance  from  the  soldiers.  The  Glouces- 
ters and  Fusiliers  fought  together  at  Waterloo;  the 

138 


Surrender  at  Nicholson's  Nek 

latter  were  the  celebrated  "  Faugh  a  ballaghs  "  who 
had  "cleared  the  way"  in  many  combats,  and  officers 
and  men  shouted  that  they  would  not  surrender. 
But  the  leading  burghers  pointed  to  a  low  spur  in 
the  centre,  jutting  from  the  nek ;  the  white  flag  was 
certainly  waving, —  by  order,  the  officers  supposed, — 
and  it  was  their  duty  to  order  their  men  to  lay 
down  their  arms. 

But  for  once  their  orders  were  not  obeyed,  and 
even  the  unarmed  gunners  of  the  stampeded  battery 
seized  rifles  from  dead  men  and  prepared  to  help  re- 
sist with  the  bayonet.  But  the  subalterns  entreated 
their  companions  not  to  violate  the  flag,  but  to  obey 
orders.  Some  officers  snatched  guns  from  their  men 
and  threw  them  to  the  ground,  and  finally  reason 
prevailed.  Several  officers  broke  their  swords,  and 
as  the  Boers  closed  in,  the  men  flung  themselves 
on  the  ground,  cursing  and  weeping.  They  were 
made  prisoners  by  Commandant  Steenekamp,  their 
wounded  being  treated  with  every  consideration. 
Sleiman  escorted  the  captured  men  to  Pretoria. 

It  subsequently  transpired  that  the  flag  had  been 
raised  by  a  wounded  sergeant  of  the  Gloucesters, 
who  with  ten  men  had  survived  a  party  holding  an 
outl5dng  and  exposed  position.  Unable  to  move, 
and  believing  from  the  cessation  of  the  firing  above 
them  that  they  were  abandoned,  they  tied  a  handker- 
chief to  a  rifle  which  was  stuck  upright  by  the 
bayonet  in  the  ground  before  their  breastwork;  and 

139 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

greatly  surprised  were  they  to  hear  the  shouts  of 
their  comrades  above  them  when  the  Boer  volleys 
stopped. 

Further  resistance,  however,  would  have  entailed 
useless  slaughter,  but  officers  and  men  stoutly  claim, 
"We  did  not  surrender,  we  were  surrendered,"  and 
there  is  no  discredit  to  those  concerned.  I  do  not 
know,  however,  why  a  force  was  sent  to  operate  in  a 
difficult  and  dangerous  country  without  some  system 
of  communication  with  the  centre  or  base.  Lack  of 
cavalry  cannot  be  the  excuse. 

Despite  the  signal  victories  of  Dundee,  Elands- 
laagte,  and  the  success  at  Rietfontein,  White  now 
found  the  -enemy  closing  in  on  all  sides  in  a  strength 
that  the  colonial  authorities  had  little  dreamed  of. 
The  awakening  of  Pepworth  Hill  had  cost  heavily  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  and  but  for  the  urgent 
representations  of  the  Colonial  Government  to  hold 
Ladysmith  at  all  costs.  White  would  have  fallen  back 
across  the  Tugela  to  await  reinforcements. 

During  the  siege  of  Badajoz,  Lieutenant,  after- 
wards Sir,  Harry  Smith  saved  the  honor  of  a  beauti- 
ful young  Spanish  countess.  The  age  of  chivalry 
was  not  then  dead,  and  the  sequel  to  the  romance  is 
that  the  young  officer  became  one  of  the  few  success- 
ful administrators  in  South  Africa,  and  Lady  Smith, 
who  followed  her  husband  through  his  adventurous 
career,  shared  his  popularity.  Hence,  Harrismith  in 
the  Free  State  and  Ladysmith  in  Natal.     The  latter 

140 


Isolation  of  Ladysmith 

settlement,  which  has  since  grown  into  an  important 
town,  was  built  on  the  flat  ground  sloping  down  to 
the  Klip  River.  Enclosed  and  commanded  on  three 
sides  by  a  horse-shoe  of  hills,  it  proved  an  ideal  place 
for  Boer  investment.  But  the  hero  of  Childulktean 
and  Charasiah  immediately  prepared  for  defence, 
sending  out  most  of  his  women  and  children  to 
Maritzburg,  expecting  at  least  to  be  able  to  sustain 
communications  along  the  railroad  to  Durban,  how- 
ever, though  some  stores  were  hurried  to  the  front. 
Train  after  train  of  wounded  and  refugees  were  sent 
down  country  to  escape  the  perils  of  bombardment, 
but  absolute  siege  was  not  expected. 

On  November  2d,  French  with  cavalry  and  artil- 
lery made  a  sortie  toward  Besters,  shelling  the  Boers 
out  of  a  laager.  Much  more  of  this  sort  of  work 
might  have  been  done  by  surprising  isolated  com- 
mandoes and  night  attacks,  but  after  Nicholson's 
Nek,  White  was  naturally  cautious.  The  troops  also 
were  engaged  on  heavy  fatigue  and  garrison  duty, 
being  chiefly  occupied  in  building  defences  for  the 
town.  Had  the  natives  been  hired  or  even  impressed, 
as  a  military  necessity,  with  good  pay,  black  labor 
might  have  accomplished  much  of  this  work.  Indi- 
gent natives  afterwards  had  to  be  fed,  and  no  great 
difficulty  stood  in  the  way  of  their  employment,  as  in 
Kimberley  and  Mafeking,  leaving  the  troops  free 
for  military  purposes.  But  close  investment  was 
not  expected  until  farmera  from  the  South  flocked 

141 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

into  Ladysmith  with  stories  of  wanton  outrage  and 
plunder,  and  it  dawned  on  the  little  garrison  that 
they  were  being  hemmed  in.  The  cordon  grew 
tighter,  and  on  the  4th,  the  enemy  was  seen  hov- 
ering in  the  vicinity  of  Colenso,  where  the  line 
crosses  the  Tugela.  General  French  left  on  the 
armored  train  for  Durban  that  morning  to  arrange 
for  reinforcements,  and  the  cars  were  shelled  ineffec- 
tually. Later  in  the  day  the  small  garrison  holding 
Colenso  was  attacked  and  driven  south,  the  rails 
were  torn  up,  hills  in  the  vicinity  closely  occupied, 
and  despite  two  desperate  and  successful  sorties,  the 
isolation  of  Ladysmith,  with  its  garrison  of  ten  thou* 
sand  men,  was  completed  on  the  following  day. 


U2 


CHAPTER  VI 

Cape  Town  :  Political  and  Military.  —  Landing  of 
THE  Army.  — Buller's  Force.  —  Disposition  of  the 
Columns. 

Adamastor  rose  in  his  wrath,  and  in  the  garb  of 
politics  swept  down  the  Caudine  forks  of  Afrikan- 
derism,  upsetting  the  habitual  calm  that  Cape  Town 
derives  from  its  guardian  giant  Table  Mountain. 

By  an  accident  of  transportation  I  was  outside  the 
Boer  lines ;  but  there  was  a  moment  of  doubt  —  could 
this  be  a  British  colony?  The  Union  Jack  was 
waving  and  the  "  gentleman  in  khaki "  was  on  the 
street  —  it  was  Cape  Town,  not  Pretoria.  Yet  Boer 
successes  all  along  the  line,  Ladysmith,  Kimberley, 
and  Maf eking  invested !  Whence,  then,  these  smiling 
faces,  the  guttural  congratulations,  the  portentous 
air,  asinus  portat  mysteria  ? 

"We  cannot  help  rejoicing  at  the  victory  of  our 
brothers  over  British  oppression,"  said  my  acquaint- 
ance, an  habitue  of  Camp  Street. 

"  Oppression  ?  " 

"  Well,  yes.  '  Africa  for  Afrikanders,'  you  know, 
like  your  favorite  theme,  '  Cuba  for  the  Cubans.' " 

143 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Cuba !  South  Africa  !  My  mind  reverted  to  the 
far  Antilles,  —  the  starving  women  and  children, 
perishing  conscripts,  the  shambles  of  la  Cabana,  the 
deportados^  —  scenes  of  war,  murder,  starvation,  and 
sudden  death ;  of  a  land  dripping  with  blood  under 
Weyler's  iron  hand.  I  looked  around  me  :  the  young 
Afrikanders  were  parading  on  the  strength  of  the 
"  good  news ; "  there  was  a  general  and  open  jubila- 
tion over  imperial  reverse.  0ns  Land^  a  newspaper 
that  surpassed  Pretorian  sheets  in  virulence  and 
rabid  invective,  and  other  notorious  pro-Boer 
organs  were  on  the  street.  But  where  was  British 
oppression  ? 

My  friend  could  not  specify  grievances.  True, 
the  Colony  made  its  own  laws,  determined  its  own 
revenue,  boasted  its  own  parliament.  Stranger  yet, 
the  Dutch,  I  mean  the  Afrikander  party,  these  victims 
of  oppression,  were  in  absolute  power.  They  had 
elected  their  own  Cabinet,  held  their  debates  in 
Dutch,  and  by  the  freest  of  representative  franchise, 
ran  the  colony  —  a  British  colony  —  as  they  listed. 
But  all  this  is  not  enough  for  your  retrogressive 
Cape-Boer.  He  had  one  and  only  one  fault  to  find 
with  the  liberal  constitution  of  this  Crown  colony: 
it  guarantees  equal  rights  to  all ;  and  an  Englishman 
or  American  has  the  same  privileges  as  he  has,  and 
the  black  also  if  he  has  the  educational  qualifications 
of  a  voter.  In  short,  here  is  a  country  every  bit  as 
free  and  universal  as   the   United  States,  with  the 

144 


Traitors  in  Cape  Town 

protection  of  England's  vast  resources,  for  which 
the  colonists  are  not  taxed  one  penny.  No  wonder 
the  intelligent  foreigner,  after  suffering  under  the  ad- 
ministrators of  the  Transvaal,  welcomes  the  prospect 
of  the  extension  of  such  a  constitution  north  of  the 
Vaal,  since  his  efforts  to  gain  a  true  republic,  under 
which  all  could  become  citizens  of  the  land  of  their 
adoption,  had  proved  abortive  and  hopeless. 

Of  course  ere  long  I  located  the  loyal  sections,  and 
though  quieter  they  are  in  majority.  And  in  the 
gatherings  that  pray  for  British  victory  and  work  for 
the  soldiers  of  their  empire,  the  visitor,  even  if  he 
thinks  he  knows  his  Cape  Town  well  in  peace,  will  be 
surprised  to  find  so  large  a  proportion  Dutch.  The 
war  has  wrought  many  changes,  dividing  the  sheep, 
the  goats,  and  the  wolves  in  sheep's  clothing ;  but  the 
progressive  element  of  the  Dutch,  the  very  best  of 
that  Taal-sipesiking  race,  has  come  out  strongly  for 
country  and  Queen.  Like  their  historical  relatives 
in  North  America,  they  have  quietly  accepted  the 
rule  under  which  their  destiny  is  cast,  and  by  reason 
of  their  ties  to  the  country  they  are  the  best  people 
South  Africa  could  have.  For  nearly  a  century  they 
have  lived  under  British  rule ;  they  believe  in  its 
benefits,  since  the  people's  is  the  hand  that  guides  it. 
These  Dutch  loyalists  are  the  salt  of  the  earth,  and 
every  year  their  number  grows  in  combination  for 
the  common  good. 

And  note  these  well,  gentle  Americans  of  Dutch 
10  145 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

descent!  Your  sympathies  have  been  enlisted  for 
the  Boer  republics  because  you  feel  that  they  are 
peopled  by  those  of  your  own  blood.  Granted 
the  sturdy  development  of  Boer  character,  the  cor- 
ruption and  oppression  of  the  countries  cannot  be 
gainsaid.  Ere  you  throw  your  sympathy  with  the 
misguided,  look  well  into  the  race,  for  the  ties  of 
blood  and  language  are  more  fancied  than  real.  His- 
tory will  show  you  that  the  voortrekkers  were  not  the 
purest  or  the  most  enlightened  Dutch.  If  you  are 
guided  by  race  do  not  overlook  the  pure  Dutch  mer- 
chants, traders,  and  professional  men  who  remained 
near  Cape  Town.  Their  language  was  the  language 
of  your  progenitors  —  not  TaaL  To-day  they  speak 
the  English  language  with  you ;  they  are  your  true 
blood  relatives  and  they  share  your  truest  ideals. 
They  have  spent  nearly  a  century  with  Anglo  Saxons, 
making  a  common  cause  and  a  common  country. 

Granted  that  their  first  aim  is  loyalty  to  the  Queen, 
but  they  are  the  true  Knickerbockers  of  South  Africa, 
and  their  second  aim,  "  to  bind  together  all  nationali- 
ties, English,  Dutch,  French,  and  German,  savors  of 
the  highest  Americanism.  With  that  object  there  is 
a  guild  to  counteract  the  evil  genii  of  the  Bond. 
Enrolled  therein,  besides  prominent  people  of  British 
extraction  (Irish  included),  are  the  descendants  of 
the  best  Dutch,  French,  Huguenot,  and  German 
Lutheran  families  in  the  colony.  With  Sir  Peter 
and  Lady  Faure,  the  Van  der  Byls,  de  Jonghs,  Gries- 

146 


Boers  or  Dutch 

bachs,  Silberbauers,  Van  Rynevelds,  Smits,  Van 
Bredas,  Redelinghuis,  and  Zalms,  and  a  host  of  others 
that  would  fill  this  chapter  to  mention,  the  British 
flag  will  be  safe  in  South  Africa,  for  they  were  born 
under  it  and  appreciate  the  full  measure  of  its  liberty. 

If  blood  be  thicker  than  water,  it  is  with  the  Dutch 
loyalists  that  you  should  sympathize  as  your  nearest 
kin.  Do  not  forget  the  homes  of  these  people 
on  the  borders,  sacked  because  their  conscience  for- 
bade their  accepting  arms  to  fight  against  their  Queen ; 
nor  the  homeless  women  whose  husbands  have  been 
flung  into  Pretoria  jail  because,  though  Dutch,  they 
refused  the  mandates  of  the  republics.  Their  lot  is 
every  bit  as  hard  as  that  of  the  lonely  Boer  women 
of  the  Transvaal  or  Free  State.  You  have  been  led 
to  believe  that  this  struggle  is  Dutch  versus  English, 
and  that  the  former,  republican  and  colonial,  are 
united  in  a  common  cause.     Make  no  such  mistake. 

The  following  figures  are  given  as  the  strength 
of  the  races  in  South  Africa :  — 

British  Dutch 

Cape  Colony     ...         .     146,224  228,627 

Natal 51,000  10,000 

Transvaal 120,000  125,000 

Free  State 6,791  70,925 

In  Cape  Colony,  among  the  British  enumerated 
above,  are  several  thousand  young  settlers  who 
have  no  franchise,  and  the  Dutch  vote,  almost  to  a 

147 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

man.  Yet  with  this  great  Dutch  preponderance,  the 
Bond  has  returned  minorities,  and  the  majority, 
neither  the  Dutch  nor  the  British,  but  the  intelligent 
residents  of  South  Africa  irrespective  of  nationality, 
have  legislated  in  direct  opposition  to  the  republics. 
The  Transvaal  has  been  especially  bitter  against  the 
Cape  Colonists,  and  has  favored,  not  the  Dutch,  but 
the  Bondites  only,  who  are  disciples  of  Reitz  and  in 
some  sympathy  with  Krugerism.  To-day  the  Bond 
enjoys  only  a  slight  majority  gained  through  the 
split  in  the  Rhodes  party.  Do  not  forget  the  Dutch 
on  the  other  side.  Ask  Dr.  Lindley,  once  prominent 
with  you,  now  major  in  Remington's  corps.  He 
knows. 

It  was  with  the  Bondites  that  I  cast  my  lot  for 
observation,  and  I  was  not  supposed  to  learn  these 
things.  So  great  was  the  desire  of  my  pro-Boer 
friends  to  imbue  within  me  an  appreciation  of  their 
cause  when  they  learned  that  my  pen  might  reach 
the  press  of  the  American  people,  from  whom  they 
expect  so  much,  that  they  ignored  veracity  or  con- 
sistent statement ;  and  much  as  there  is  to  be  said  on 
their  side,  they  are  their  own  enemies  and  should  be 
saved  from  prejudicing  their  own  cause.  My  over- 
rated introduction  to  a  certain  Bond  leader  read: 
"  The  bearer  by  pen  and  sword  fought  for  the  inde- 
pendence of  Cuba.  He  loves  the  liberty  of  all  men, 
and  represents  some  leading  American  papers.  Give 
him  all  assistance  in  your  power  to  learn  the  truth 

148 


The  Africander 

of  the  deplorable  state  of  South  Africa."  I  fear  my 
conception  of  liberty  differed  from  theirs,  but  it  was 
not  from  want  of  presentation  to  their  cause. 

"  Africa  for  Afrikanders  "  the  rallying  cry  of  the 
Bond,  would  be  correctly  rendered  "  Africa  for  the 
ultra  Cape  Dutch."  I  had  expected  to  find  in  its 
ranks  at  least  the  English  Radicals  of  the  colony, 
but  I  found  none  save  the  Hofmeyers,  Sauers,  and 
such.  The  British  Afri(?ander,  even  of  the  third  and 
fourth  generation,  has  an  inherent  love  of  the  country 
of  his  early  progenitors.  0ns  land  to  him  is  Eng- 
land. But  note  this,  ultra  loyalist  and  ultra  Bondite  I 
Sustain  your  loyalty,  the  one  to  the  mother  coun- 
try, the  other  to  tradition,  but  remember,  "  our  land," 
ons  land,  Africa,  should  be  your  cry,  that  you  may 
combine  to  rear  up  a  great  country  and  a  united 
people.  You,  loyalist,  must  overcome  some  of  your 
British  prejudices;  and  remember,  Bondite,  that 
history  records  no  successful  attempt  of  government 
moulded  on  your  past  ideals.  Learn  a  lesson  from 
the  Dutch  loyalist,  whose  motto  is  "  Universal  liberty 
for  all  South  Africa." 

If  the  Bond  has  had  a  definite  policy  to  achieve  an 
independent  Dutch  South  Africa,  its  members  have 
shown  neither  foresight  nor  intelligence  in  its  pursu- 
ance, and  have  developed  no  disposition  themselves 
to  strike  the  blow.  These  Bondites  did  not  know 
their   England  well — they  know  it  better    to-day. 

U9 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Their  founder,  Mr.  Reitz,  jumped  into  the  State- 
secretaryship  of  the  Transvaal  when  gold  promised 
a  harvest  for  Afrikander  ideals,  and  they  inwardly 
hoped  that  by  his  infusion  to  Boer  politics  the  fight- 
ing of  Kruger  and  Steyn  would  extort  a  further 
exhibition  of  British  magnanimity,  mistaken  as  cow- 
ardice by  Afrikanders,  and  accomplish  the  over- 
throw of  Anglo  Saxon  dominance  in  South  Africa. 

The  Boer  summary  of  British  impotence  men- 
tioned in  a  previous  chapter  had  circulated  freely 
throughout  Afrikanderdom.  It  was  borne  out  by 
successive  reverses  to  the  imperial  arms.  But  jubi- 
lation was  turned  to  fear  when  the  more  thoughtful 
element  realized  the  possibility  of  Crown  control 
swept  away  for  the  institution  of  Boer  supremacy 
on  Kruger  lines.  Scales  dropped  from  the  eyes  of 
these  Bondites;  they  perceived  the  Transvaal 
Charybdis  looming  on  their  political  horizon  to  ob- 
scure the  small  Colonial  Office  Scylla.  Kruger  was 
by  no  means  the  Washington  for  their  independence, 
neither  did  they  desire  their  destiny  shaped  by  the 
more  popular  Steyn.  Their  racial  sympathies  had 
been  with  the  republics  as  they  stood,  objects  of 
British  aggression.  But  when  they  disclosed  arma- 
ments of  which  the  Cape  Dutch  had  never  dreamed, 
and  soon  dreaded,  the  danger  of  Boer  dominance 
caused  representative  colonials  of  all  creeds  to  rally 
to  the  imperial  cause. 

Thousands  of  ignorant  border  farmers,  however, 
150 


Colonial  Traitors 

prompted  by  the  early  action  of  the  Bond,  and  misled 
by  Kruger's  bibliomancy,  took  up  arms  against  the 
British.  They  aided  the  sacking  of  loyalists  homes, 
and  traitorously  acted  as  spies  on  all  occasions. 
They  looted  and  bushwhacked  with  the  Boers,  count- 
ing on  Bond  influence  and  British  magnanimity  to 
escape  the  penalties  of  high  treason  if  they  had 
jumped  on  the  losing  side,  with  the  certainty  of 
a  rich  haul  in  the  spoils  if  the  republics  were 
victorious. 

Kruger's  threat  that  if  these  traitors  were  held 
responsible  for  their  treachery  he  would  inflict 
reprisal  on  British  prisoners  of  war  will  gain  him 
scant  sympathy  from  the  civilized  world.  The 
Government  warned  the  colonial  Dutch  of  the 
penalties  of  treason;  those  who  replied  by  taking  up 
arms  against  their  country,  wantonly  destroying  the 
homes  of  loyalists,  many  of  their  own  tongue  and 
blood,  must  abide  by  the  result. 

I  could  fill  a  chapter  with  the  sloth,  deceit,  and 
general  shortcomings  of  the  inland  Dutch  farmer, 
though,  in  deference  to  the  many  intelligent  Dutch 
British  subjects,  a  special  term  should  distinguish 
this  type  of  Afrikander.  Olive  Schreiner,  who  is 
prejudiced  enough  in  their  favor,  says  that  the  Taal 
"  cannot  express  a  subtle  emotion  or  abstract  concep- 
tion, or  wide  generalization."  Their  limitations  and 
ignorance  must  be  experienced  to  be  appreciated. 

The  absence  of  principle  in  the  true  Boer,  colonial 
161 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

or  republican,  and  his  bigotry,  is  unparalleled  by 
any  other  white  race.  There  are  many  rebel  farm- 
ers who  looted  their  neighbors'  stock,  and  to-day 
are  coolly  preparing  a  heavy  bill  for  personal  dam- 
ages, —  fraudulent  claims  under  the  clauses  of  im- 
perial compensation.  These  men  drove  their  own 
and  neighbors'  herds  to  the  enemy,  receiving  com- 
mandeer notes  from  the  Boer  officials,  to  be  redeemed 
"  when  the  English  were  driven  into  the  sea."  They 
are  now  ready  to  present  these  notes  to  the  British 
government  on  the  plea  that  the  supplies  were  for- 
cibly commandeered,  and  thus  receive  recompense, 
not  only  for  their  own  goods,  but  for  the  stolen 
property  of  the  loyalists.  These  latter  have  no 
papers  to  prove  their  losses,  having  been  driven 
out  in  the  night  to  seek  a  refuge  in  British  lines 
by  the  fusillade  of  a  gang  of  local  traitors  acting 
for  the  republics,  but  whom  they  were  unable  to 
recognize. 

At  six  Dutch  farm-houses  in  succession  I  once 
strove  to  obtain  aid  for  a  wounded  black ;  all  these 
gentry,  typical  of  their  kind,  gave  insults  instead  of 
mercy.  The  sturdy  wife  of  a  German  settler  proffered 
everything,  including  her  bed,  had  we  needed  it.  I 
have  yet  to  meet  the  man  of  this  very  general  type 
who  can  look  one  straight  in  the  eye.  The  Trans- 
vaal Boer  especially  has  that  hangdog  expression, 
the  shifty  eye,  that  is  apt  to  evoke  a  perhaps  unjust 
contempt.     And  it  is  because  of  their  limitations, 

152 


Wisdom  of  Magnanimity 

their  colossal  ignorance,  that  it  is  foolish  to  overrate 
the  rebellious  instincts  of  the  colonial  Boers. 

Looters  and  swindlers  should  be  treated  as  common 
criminals,  not  by  court  martial  or  by  special  tribunal 
so  that  the  culprits  pose  as  martyrs.  Already  the 
traitorous  Bond  organ  0ns  Land,,  when  referring  to 
the  summary  trial  of  such,  heads  the  article,  "  He  is 
brought  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep 
before  her  shearers  is  dumb,"  and  so  forth.  The  colo- 
nial officials  who  in  violation  of  their  oaths  of  office 
received  the  Boers  with  open  arms  deserve  severe 
treatment.  The  ringleaders  of  the  rebels  should  be 
sentenced  to  imprisonment  for  life,  and  released 
when  the  war  is  over.  But  the  simple  Afrikanders 
who  took  up  arms  when  the  Republicans  hoisted  the 
vierhleur  in  their  district,  and  annexed  it,  deserve 
every  consideration.  The  men  who  were  taken  re- 
sisting under  arms  merit  what  they  are  receiving  — 
from  six  months  to  a  year  in  prison;  though  they 
should  be  released  if  the  war  closes  earlier. 

But  those  surrendering,  and  even  those  sneaking 
home  hoping  to  escape  detection,  need  no  such  pun- 
ishment. With  Abderitan  simplicity  they  imbibed 
the  propagated  lies  of  Boer  leaders  ;  they  saw  British 
territory  invaded  with  impunity,  and  believed  Lady- 
smith  taken.  White  killed,  BuUer  a  prisoner,  and 
the  British  army  dispersed,  even  as  their  local  papers 
told  them.  There  is  much  excuse  for  these.  Now 
that  they  find  their  leaders  sur  les  joncs,  the  Boers 

163 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

retreating,  and  the  rooineks  in  possession,  they  are 
very  ready  to  resume  the  rOle  of  peace.  Disen- 
franchisement  will  be  a  necessary  measure  for  those 
men,  until  after  the  war.  They  do  not  deserve  the 
power  of  vote,  until  they  have  grasped  the  propae- 
deutic lessons  of  their  empire  and  its  responsibilities. 
By  this  disenfranchisement,  at  least  thirteen  rabid 
Bond  members  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  will  be 
unseated  in  the  next  election.  This  will  crumble  the 
narrow  Bond  majority  and  overthrow  the  present 
ministry.  But  it  would  be  madness  to  enforce  the 
severe  penalties  urged  by  many  loyalists. 

The  blundering  of  the  Bond  is  in  a  measure 
responsible  for  these  traitors.  Bond  members  have 
welcomed  the  enemy  to  their  homes  and  have  ex- 
tended a  willing  hospitality  to  the  leaders.  Bond 
blunders  in  the  past  misled  the  Pretorian  war  party 
to  rely  on  unanimous  rising  of  the  Cape  Dutch  when 
hostilities  opened.  But  in  the  eleventh  hour,  when 
this  caucus  had  taken  fullest  advantage  of  political 
liberty  and  found  their  selfish  interests  likely  to 
suffer,  they  paraded  their  tardy  loyalty,  waved  the 
Union  Jack,  and  sang  "  God  save  the  Queen." 

The  Bond  members  meet  in  an  old  Dutch  mansion 
in  Cape  Town,  a  salon  presided  over  by  a  talented 
Dutch  lady,  the  Madame  de  Stael  of  Afrikanderism. 
The  average  members  of  the  Bond  may  be  easily 
detected ;  they  are  polished  editions  of  the  Boer,  — 
ample-waisted,  bewhiskered  men  in  tall  hats,  frock 

154 


Overrating  Cape  Disloyalty 

coats,  and  the  omnipresent  rucked  up  trousers  reach- 
ing to  the  top  of  elastic  side-boots.  At  the  last  Cape 
general  election,  the  numerical  inequality  of  poll- 
ing districts  returned  an  ultra-Dutch  majority.  The 
Bond  was  the  inspiration  of  this  Parliament  —  it  was 
the  power  behind  the  ministry.  The  Bond  decreed 
neutrality  of  the  colony  in  a  British  war,  and  that 
neutrality  was  in  part  effected.  In  consequence,  the 
Cape  ministry  stands  charged  with  responsibility  for 
the  early  success  of  the  Boer  invasion ;  and  the  Prime 
Minister,  Mr.  Schreiner,  has  not  escaped  the  brand  of 
traitor,  though  history  will  show  how  little  he  deserved 
the  opprobrious  epithet. 

But  Cape  disloyalty  has  been  talked  of  and  magni- 
fied for  political  effect  until  every  colonial  of  Dutch 
extraction  in  South  Africa  is  looked  upon  as  a  traitor 
and  all  Bond  members  as  active  factors  in  the  war. 
Bear  in  mind  the  blood  relationship  of  the  South 
African  Dutch;  British  subject  or  Boer,  he  sprang 
from  the  same  stock,  though  environment  has  greatly 
determined  his  characteristics.  The  active  and  passive 
sympathy  for  the  republics  among  representative 
Afrikanders  is  chiefly  racial.  The  intelligent  Dutch 
colonial  knows  that  he  enjoys  a  government  republi- 
can in  all  but  name.  His  liberty  also  is  guaranteed 
by  his  inclusion  in  the  most  powerful  empire  in  the 
world. 

It  is  charged  that  the  Bond  has  conspired,  in  no 
very  intelligent  fashion,  with  Germany.     The  Rhodes- 

155 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

ite  party  claims  to  have  positive  proof  that  a  noted 
Bond  leader  received  £2000  for  electioneering  pur- 
poses from  the  "Berliner  Handelsgesellschaft,"  and 
other  evidence  of  apparent  German  intrigue  is  not 
wanting.  But  Mr.  Hofmeyr,  the  chairman,  speaking 
for  the  Bond,  was  the  first  to  resent  the  Emperor 
William's  congratulatory  cable,  and  in  an  open  letter 
to  the  colony  stated  that  the  seizure  of  Daraaraland 
would  be  the  first  act  of  the  opposition  of  United 
South  Africans  to  German  aggression;  and  I  know 
that  he  personally  warned  Kruger  not  to  count  upon 
Germany  as  a  factor  in  the  war  with  England. 

Even  the  ultra  Bondites  of  Cape  Colony  have 
progressed  far  more  during  the  past  decade  than 
have  their  brother  Afrikanders  in  the  republics,  and 
the  more  enlightened  members  have  sustained  the 
Bond  as  a  Dutch  co-operative  society,  little  influ- 
enced by  its  avowed  ideals.  Many  of  the  most 
prominent  men  in  present  Bond  circles  have  used  the 
association  only  as  a  means  to  defeat  the  Rhodes 
party  at  all  hazards  —  not  to  lessen  imperial  control. 
With  them  it  is  the  old  story  of  resort  to  every  device 
for  political  capital,  and  invariably  such  devices  are 
reactive.  The  future  will  show  that  these  men,  by 
dabbling  with  the  anti-British  party  in  colony  and 
republics  have  played  directly  into  the  hands  of  their 
political  opponents. 

Forgetting  in  their  factional  hatred  that  the  Rhodes 
party,  professedly  at  least,  was  the  imperial  party, 

156 


A  Word  to  the  Loyalist 

that  by  aiming  so  injudiciously  at  their  opponents 
it  has  appeared  that  they  were  aiming  at  the  Crown, 
these  Afrikanders  have  thrown  reckless  political 
boomerangs  that  are  reverting  to  their  own  heads. 

With  the  preponderance  of  home  opinion  behind 
them,  the  imperialist  party  are  not  only  urging 
extreme  measures  against  the  republics,  but  they 
will  attempt  a  general  political  humiliation  of  the 
Bondites. 

The  loyalist  has  learned  many  things  by  bitter 
experience.  In  part,  his  ancestors  have  lived  in  South 
Africa  as  long  as  the  Bondites.  Those  of  British 
extraction  are  there  to  stay,  and  many  can  go  back 
to  colonial  great-grandfathers.  They  have  been  forced 
to  remain  quietly  under  what  they  term  a  "  traitorous 
alien  administration  of  a  Crown  colony."  They 
have  suffered  severely  in  places  by  what  they  feel  to 
be  the  wilful  neglect  of  the  present  party,  and  they 
resent  continuance  of  the  Afrikander  ministry.  And 
these  intelligent  Dutch  and  the  British  South  Afri- 
cans desire  to  forever  end  the  dominance  of  the 
Bond. 

Unfortunately  the  endogamy  of  the  British  and 
Dutch  has  been  sustained  too  strongly  for  a  large 
common  stock  to  arise  as  true  Afrikanders.  In  the 
fusion  of  the  races  lies  the  only  hope  for  future  South 
Africa.  In  glancing  over  a  recent  marriage  register, 
I  was  gratified  to  notice  the  greatly  increasing  num- 
ber of  unions  of  Dutch  and  British  names.     While 

157 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

pessimists  despair,  here  is  the  rising  star  of  Soutli 
African  hope.  And  Dutch  men  of  all  classes  and 
creeds,  and  many  a  faltering  Britisher  as  well,  have 
learned  new  lessons  of  the  empire  of  which  they  are 
an  integral  part.  They  have  seen  French  and  Eng- 
lish Canadians  shouldering  their  rifles  with  colon- 
ials of  all  climes  for  a  common  cause;  they  have 
realized  now  the  fallacy  of  those  who  had  so  clearly 
outlined  the  rottenness  of  the  solid  fabric  of  the 
British  empire.  And  the  ignorant  border-farmer, 
whose  vote  makes  him  an  element  of  danger,  has 
learned  his  lesson  from  the  thousands  of  troops  "  that 
have  swarmed  up  from  the  sea."  Already  I  have 
noted  a  change  in  his  tone,  —  he  is  prouder  now  of 
being  a  British  subject,  and  has  learned  an  infinite 
respect  for  those  little  pieces  of  paper  with  "  V.  R." 
and  a  crown  as  a  heading,  and  "  God  save  the  Queen  " 
on  the  last  line. 

Note  this  change,  loyalist!  As  you  stand  in  the 
ruins  of  your  homestead,  your  furniture  smashed  to 
atoms,  your  bedroom  turned  into  a  dung  heap ;  as  you 
see  your  wife's  tears  for  the  ruthless  destruction  of 
relics  of  bygone  days,  for  her  home,  once  the  pride 
and  joy  of  her  woman's  heart,  now  a  hopeless  wreck; 
as  you  hear  the  childish  sobs  over  the  pets  stolen  by 
this  rebel  enemy,  and  rage  and  despair  gnaw  at  your 
heart,  —  note  this  change  I  Revenge  for  these  bitter 
wrongs  would  be  sweet,  but  magnanimity  can  work 
the  greater  good.     Magnanimity  cannot  now  be  mis- 

158 


A  Word  to  the  Loyalist 

taken  for  fear,  and  it  will  be  the  only  salve  for  future 
peace  in  South  Africa. 

When  equality  for  all  men  has  been  firmly  estab- 
lished from  the  Cape  to  the  Zambesi,  and  all  South 
Africa  has  come  under  one  flag,  do  not  engender 
racial  issues.  Remember  that  any  attempt  to  hu- 
miliate your  Dutch  neighbors  politically  for  the  acts 
of  the  more  ignorant  of  their  brethren  must  divide 
the  colonies  into  hostile  camps,  British  and  Afrikan- 
der. Furthermore,  it  will  consolidate  the  Dutch 
parties,  now  split  into  imperialists,  anti-republicans, 
progressives,  and  Bondites,  against  you.  The  breach 
is  wide  now,  but  the  Afrikander  has  learnt  his  les- 
son, and  it  rests  greatly  with  you,  British  loyalist,  to 
re-establish  cordial  relations  for  the  sake  of  future 
peace  and  prosperity. 

Remember  in  your  bitterness  that  some  high  in 
authority  (though,  under  less  tolerant  rulers  than 
England,  many  would  have  been  imprisoned  or  shot 
for  high  treason)  did  at  the  eleventh  hour  stand  for 
Queen  and  country,  and  secured  the  loyalty  of  thou- 
sands of  the  Dutch,  from  East  London  to  De  Aar, 
who  stood  wavering  under  the  subtle  promises  of  the 
Presidents,  and  who  in  rebellion  might  have  cost 
the  colony  dearly.  Remember  also  the  thousands 
of  loyal  Dutchmen,  the  "  Progressive  Afrikanders  " 
in  the  colonial  forces,  who,  true  to  the  flag,  went 
forth  with  you  to  fight  the  invader,  and  the  thou- 
sands  who   deplored  the   war,  disagreed   with  you 

159 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

about  it,  but  remained  loyal  —  country,  right  or 
wrong  —  my  country.  Bis  vincit  qui  se  vincit  in 
victoria. 

To  turn  from  the  base  political  to  the  base  military. 
Cape  Town  now  is  practically  the  headquarters  of  the 
largest  army  ever  sent  across  the  sea,  save  Weyler's 
horde  so  successfully  outwitted  by  the  Cuban  "  hand- 
ful." After  the  Tampa  fiasco,  I  was  anxious  to  see, 
the  disembarkation  of  an  army  without  a  Shafter. 
During  November  and  December,  England,  awakened 
to  the  peril  of  her  supremacy  in  South  Africa  at  the 
hands  of  an  army  of  herders,  poured  her  soldiers  into 
the  colony  in  thousands.  But  transportation  in  the 
British  army  —  or  I  should  say  navy,  since  the  control 
of  the  transports  is  vested  in  the  Admiralty  —  has 
been  reduced  to  a  perfect  system  by  lessons  of  long 
experience.  Entire  divisions  were  moved  six  and 
seven  thousand  miles  without  a  hitch;  the  system 
proved  capable  of  efficacious  extension  from  the 
Indian  drafts  to  an  army  corps. 

In  rapid  succession  great  transports  swung  along- 
side the  massive  South  Arm,  the  organization  of  the 
Army  Service  Corps  was  called  into  play,  and  as  the 
living  freight  marched  down  the  pier  and  entrained  to 
the  front,  tons  of  stores  were  hoisted  from  the  holds, 
every  box  of  supplies,  case  of  equipment,  or  bale  of 
forage  designated  and  apportioned.  No  confusion 
and  no  shortage ;  the  great  base,  divided  into  depart- 

160 


The  First  Army  Corps 

ments  for  every  military  detail,  filled  the  requisitions 
for  the  advanced  bases,  where  supply  columns  were 
replenished,  returns  were  sorted  and  checked  with 
the  dockets,  by  which  every  pound  of  food  for  horse 
or  man,  or  stores  from  a  traction  engine  to  a  head 
rope  could  be  accounted  for. 

The  first  army  corps,  under  General  Buller,  which 
left  England  as  Dundee  and  Elandslaagte  were  being 
fought,  comprised,  — 

First  Division. 
Lieutenant-General  Lord  Methuen. 
First    Brigade    (Guards),    Major-General   Sir    Henry 
Colvile,  K.  C.  M.  G. :   3d   Grenadier    Guards;  1st  Cold- 
stream    Guards ;     2d     Coldstream     Guards ;     1st    Scots 
Guards. 

Second  Brigade  (English),  Major-General  Hildyard: 
2d  West  Surrey:  2d  Devonshire;  2d  West  Yorkshire; 
2d  East  Surrey  Kegiment. 

DIVISIONAL   TROOPS. 

One  squadron  14th  Hussars;  7th,  14th,  and  66th  Bat- 
teries R.  F.  A.;  ammunition  column;  17th  Field  Com- 
pany Royal  Engineers;  20th  Company  Army  Service 
Corps;    19th  Field  Hospital. 

Second  Division. 
Lieutenant-General  Sir  C.  F.  Clery,  K.  C.  B. 
Tliird  Brigade  (Scotch),  Major-General  Andrew  Wau- 
chope:    2d  Royal  Highlanders;  1st  Highland  Light  In- 
11  161 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

fantry;     2d    Seaforth     Highlanders;     1st     Argyll    and 
Sutherland  Highlanders. 

Fourth  Brigade  {Light  Infantry)^  Major-General  Lyt- 
telton:  2d  Scottish  Rifles  (Cameronians) ;  3d  King's 
Royal  Rifles;  1st  Durham  Light  Infantry;  1st  Rifle 
Brigade. 

DIVISIONAL   TROOPS. 

One  squadron  14th  Hussars;  63rd,  64th,  and  73d  Bat- 
teries R.  F.  A. ;  ammunition  column;  17th  Field  Com- 
pany R.  E. ;  20th  Company  A.  S.  C. ;  3d  Field  Hospital. 

Third  Division. 
Lieutenant-General  Sir  W.  Gatacre,  K.  C.B. 

Fifth  Brigade  (Irish),  Major-General  Fitzroy  Hart: 
1st  Royal  Inniskilling  Fusiliers;  2d  Royal  Irish 
Rifles;  1st  Connaught  Rangers;  1st  Royal  Duhlin 
Fusiliers. 

jSixth  Brigade  {Union),  Major-General  G.  Barton: 
2d  Royal  Fusiliers ;  2d  Royal  Scots  Fusiliers ;  1st  Royal 
Welsh  Fusiliers  ;  2d  Royal  Irish  Fusiliers. 

divisional  troops. 
Squadron  14th  Hussars;  74th,  77th,  and  79th  Batteries 
R.  F.  A. ;  ammunition  column;  12th  Field  Company  R.  E.; 
29th  Company  A.  S.  C. ;  7th  Field  Hospital. 

CORPS    TROOPS. 

13th  Hussars;  P  and  G  Batteries  Royal  Horse  Artil- 
lery; 4th,  38th,  and  78th  Field,  and  37th,  61st,  and  65th 
Howitzer  Batteries  R.  A.  ;  ammunition  column ;  Pontoon 
troop  R.  E.;  Telegraph  division  R.  E.;  26th  Field  Com- 

162 


The  First  Army  Corps 

pany  R.  E. ;  1st  Field  Park  R.  E. ;  two  balloon  sections 
R.  E. ;  10th  Railway  Company  R.  E.;  1st  Royal  Scots; 
21st  Company  A.  S.  C.  ;  Field  Bakery  A.  S.  C;  5th  Field 
Hospital;  ammunition  and  supply  reserves,  each  organ- 
ized in  three  sections. 

Cavalry  Division. 
Lieutenant-General  French. 

First  Brigade,  Major-General  Babington :  6th  Dragoon 
Guards ;  12th  Lancers  ;  10th  Hussars ;  R  Battery  R.  H.  A. ; 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Alderson's  Mounted  Infantry ;  am- 
munition column;  Field  Troop  R.  E.;  Company  A.  S.  C. 

Second  Brigade,  Major-General  Brabazon  :  1st  Royal 
Dragoons ;  2d  Dragoons  (Scots  Greys) ;  6th  Dragoons 
(Inniskillings)  ;  D  Battery  R.  H.  A.;  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Tudway's  Mounted  Infantry;  ammunition  column; 
Field  Troop  R.  E. ;  Company  A.  S.  C. 

A  bearer  company  Field  Hospital  and  Army  Ser- 
vice supply  column  were  attached  to  each  brigade 
in  the  army  corps.  Besides  the  regular  forces,  the 
local  colonial  corps  were  mobilized  for  patrolling, 
scouting,  and  guarding  the  lines  of  communication. 

In  Germany  and  Russia  one  district  furnishes  an 
army  corps  complete  in  all  its  details,  but  under  the 
scattered  military  conditions  of  Greater  Britain  the 
mobilization  of  such  a  force  necessitated  the  gather- 
ing of  its  component  parts  from  the  four  winds  of 
the  heavens.  The  expeditious  scheduling  of  widely 
scattered  units,  at  the  distant  point  of  mobilization, 

163 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

should  silence  the  would-be  critics  of  the  British 
military  system. 

A  complete  army  corps  consists  of  three  full  in- 
fantry divisions.  A  division  contains  two  infantry 
brigades,  each  of  four  complete  battalions  ;  a  brigade 
division  (three  batteries)  of  field  artillery ;  a  squad- 
ron of  ^cavalry ;  and  attached  units,  Engineers,  Army 
Service,  and  Medical  Staff  corps  and  ammunition 
column.  The  corps  troops  comprise  two  horse  and 
six  field  batteries,  the  balloon  and  telegraph  sections, 
railroad  company,  pontoon  troop,  field  park,  and  other 
units.  Royal  Engineers,  one  battalion  of  infantry, 
with  Army  Service  corps,  field  hospital,  ammunition 
and  supply  reserves.  The  cavalry  division  attached, 
now  consists  of  two  cavalry  brigades  (three  regi- 
ments and  one  horse  battery  in  each),  a  battalion  of 
mounted  infantry,  mounted  troop  Royal  Engineers, 
with  Army  Service,  Medical  Staff  corps,  and  ammu- 
nition columns. 

The  mobilization  comprises  about  42,000  officers 
and  men,  96  guns,  17,000  animals  and  2,150  vehicles, 
in  the  fighting  force  alone.  Add  to  these  the  men 
of  the  various  departmental  corps,  the  battalions 
necessary  for  sustaining  and  guarding  the  lines  of 
communication,  and  the  total  runs  toward  70,000 
men.  With  the  thousands  of  horses  and  vehicles 
required  for  the  Army  Service,  supply  and  ammuni- 
tion columns,  hospital  and  cavalry  remount  service, 
and  the  bullocks  and  mules  for  the  convoys  neces- 

164 


Arrival  at  Cape  Town 

sary  to  feed  this  mighty  host,  you  will  see  that  it  was 
no  mean  feat  to  gather  this  body  of  men,  animals,  and 
material,  six  thousand  miles  from  home,  little  more 
than  five  weeks  after  war  was  declared.  Remember 
the  difficulties  faced  at  Tampa  in  sending  Shafter's 
small  army  to  a  neighboring  island;  and  since  the 
British  authorities  have  now  triplicated  this  original 
force,  you  can  obtain  some  idea  of  the  stupendous 
task  that  has  been  so  successfully  accomplished  dur- 
ing the  past  few  months. 

The  army  corps  reached  Cape  Town  in  the  mid- 
dle of  November.  The  plan  of  campaign  had  been 
conceived  at  the  War  Office  and  elaborated  on  the 
voyage  by  General  Buller  and  his  staff;  but  great 
things  had  transpired  in  the  meantime,  and  he  landed 
in  Cape  Town  to  find  an  entirely  different  and  far 
more  difficult  problem  to  solve.  When  he  left  Eng- 
land, White's  force  was  adjudged  ample  to  keep 
Joubert  occupied  in  Natal ;  the  early  British  victories 
justified  the  belief.  The  army  corps,  mobilized  on 
the  Free  State  frontier,  was  to  sweep  upward  through 
Bloemfontein  to  Pretoria.  The  rodomontade  of 
the  Boers  had  evoked  contemptuous  roars  from  the 
self-satisfied  British  public.  The  cry  "To  Preto- 
ria I "  was  uttered  as  freely  in  London,  as  "  A  Ber- 
lin ! "  had  been  in  Paris  in  '70 ;  the  awakening,  if 
not  so  serious,  was  hardly  less  bitter.  The  army  had 
been  equally  sanguine. 

General  Buller  landed  to  find  Ladysmith  invested, 
165 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Natal  practically  at  the  mercy  of  the  enemy,  Kim- 
berley  isolated,  Mafeking  besieged,  and  strategical 
points  of  Cape  Colony  occupied.  Miles  of  railroad 
were  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  thousands  of  civil- 
ians were  driven  from  their  homes,  their  cattle  lifted, 
their  stores  looted  and  destroyed.  The  revenues  of 
the  colonies  were  rapidly  declining,  and  the  serious 
aspect  of  affairs,  especially  in  Natal,  necessitated  an 
entire  and  rapid  change  of  campaign. 

The  dominating  British  idea  is  to  get  at  the  enemy 
by  the  shortest  route  and  smash  him.  But  if  the  foe 
has  great  recuperative  powers  and  is  not  easily  get- 
at-able,  it  is  better  to  employ  strategy  that  will  enable 
you  to  draw  him  from  the  ground  of  his  own  choos- 
ing and  inflict  a  blow  that  will  be  decisive.  In  the 
light  of  present  knowledge  the  wisdom  of  the 
abandoned  plan  of  campaign  is  evident.  An  inva- 
sion of  the  republics  would  have  inflicted  war  on  the 
homeopathic  principle  Similia  similihus  curantur. 

The  invasion  of  the  Free  State  would  have  relieved 
Kimberley  and  lessened  the  pressure  at  Ladysmith 
by  the  rapid  withdrawal  of  the  Free  Staters.  The 
Transvaalers  could  not  then  have  remained  long  in 
Natal,  but  would  have  moved  northward  to  prepare 
the  defence  of  their  own  country.  With  Buller  at 
Bloemfontein,  White  would  have  been  released  in 
natural  sequence,  and  the  energy  expended  in  futile 
attempts  to  relieve  Ladysmith  would  have  been 
reserved  for  decisive  campaigns  north  of  the  Zand. 

166 


Disposition  of  Troops 

But  the  speedy  relief  of  the  beleaguered  cities  was 
decided  upon  for  political  reasons,  —  the  effect  on 
the  Cape  Dutch  overruling  military  plans.  Methuen 
took  part  of  his  division  to  De  Aar  to  prepare  for 
the  relief  of  Kimberley,  but  Hildyard  was  detached 
with  his  brigade  from  this  division  and  sent  to 
Durban;  Barton's  brigade  followed.  French  was 
despatched  to  Naaupoort  to  hold  the  important  rail- 
way junction.  Gatacre  disembarked  at  East  London 
to  check  disaffection  in  the  Stormberg  district,  but 
Natal  became  the  chief  theatre  of  war.  The  stream 
of  reinforcements  was  diverted  to  the  Garden  Colony, 
and  Clery  was  appointed  in  supreme  command  south 
of  the  Tugela. 

Transports  came  and  went,  troops  were  landed  and 
sent  to  the  front  or  were  ordered  on  to  East  London 
and  Durban,  but  Cape  Town,  the  quaint,  went  on 
its  way,  apparently  not  greatly  disturbed  by  the 
presence  of  60,000  refugees  from  the  republics  and 
border  towns,  and  the  stream  of  arms  passing  by 
sea  and  land,  with  the  reflux  of  the  early  wounded 
of  the  war.  The  batches  of  Boer  prisoners  attracted 
sympathy  and  attention  from  their  local  friends,  and, 
from  what  I  could  judge,  the  soiled,  repulsive-look- 
ing burghers  found  their  prison  quarters  and  prison 
rations  anything  but  disagreeable.  But  there  were 
others,  too,  survivors  of  the  educated  Johannesburg 
commando,  interesting,  intelligent  men,  many  of 
Holland  or  colonial  birth  or  educated  Boers,  who 

167 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

liked  neitlier  the  companionship  of  their  wretched 
compatriots  nor  the  inaction,  though  these  were  loud 
in  praise  of  their  treatment,  their  gratitude  being 
voiced  aptly  by  Colonel  Schiel,  "  First  these  British 
tried  to  kill  us  by  bullets,  and  now  by  kindness." 

But  later  instalments  had  none  of  this  refining 
leaven  j  typical  Transvaalers,  they  were  a  sorry 
crew,  —  pitiful  exhibitions  of  what  men  of  fine  races 
can  sink  to  when  removed  from  civilization,  with 
an  environment  that  negatives  education  or  progress. 
Yet  the  Boer  has  had  the  same  chances  as  the  sturdy 
pioneers  of  the  Western  hemisphere.  But  while 
those  whom  fortune  directly  favored  in  the  gold  glut 
gave  their  sons  education,  of  themselves  the  Boers 
do  not  beget  Garfields  nor  the  early  traits  of  the 
many-sided  Franklin. 

The  soldiers  halted  in  or  near  the  capital,  whether 
volunteers  from  Fort  Wynyard  or  the  passing  regu- 
lars detached,  had  a  royal  time.  The  best  in  the 
place  was  theirs ;  and  wise  indeed  were  the  authori- 
ties to  hold  only  necessary  files  at  the  base,  rushing 
regiments  right  through,  for  the  restraints  of  disci- 
pline were  hardly  proof  against  the  excessive  and 
often  mistaken  kindness  of  those  who  wished  to  show 
appreciation  of  the  soldiers  of  their  empire. 

More  practical  than  these  donors  of  strong  drink, 
the  black  citizens  formed  a  patriotic  league  to  supply 
all  the  strawberries  and  other  fruit  that  could  be 
used  in  the  base-hospitals  during  the  war ;   and  as 

168 


Loyalty  of  the  People 

their  color  forbade  their  fighting  for  their  Queen, 
they  volunteered  to  take  the  place  of  railway  patrols, 
without  pay,  so  that  the  white  guards  could  go 
forth  to  fight. 

And  loyal  Doctor  Versfeld,  to  the  horror  of  the 
Bond,  called  together  the  Dutch  loyalists  at  Stellen- 
bosch,  and  equipped  a  hospital  with  beds,  doctors, 
and  nurses  for  the  wounded ;  and  the  moderator  of 
the  Synod  called  on  the  ministers  to  preach  against 
the  sin  of  disloyalty.  Further  yet,  the  Irish  of  Cape 
Town  and  environs  held  a  mass  meeting  in  their 
hundreds,  and  pledged  their  loyalty  to  the  empire, 
adding  that  if  British  rule  in  the  past  had  been 
hard  for  Ireland,  there  was  the  greater  need  for  the 
Irish  to-day  to  denounce  like  oppression  in  the 
Transvaal  and  further  its  suppression.  An  Irish 
Jenny  Geddes  hurled  a  rolling  pin  at  "His  river- 
ence,"  who  in  her  own  house  told  her  to  pray  for 
the  Boers. 

Politics  figure  somewhat  in  British  religious  life. 
The  nonconformists  are  usually  Liberals  or  Radicals, 
and  those  bitterly  opposed  to  the  war  in  England 
may  generally  be  found  in  the  ranks  of  the  Dissen- 
ters. Hence  the  attitude  of  the  religious  bodies  in 
South  Africa  are  of  moment.  The  Episcopalians, 
being  of  the  Church  of  England,  naturally  are  warm 
supporters  of  the  Crown.  The  Presbyterians,  who 
are  less  influenced  by  the  power  of  Church  and  State, 
have  also  come  out  in  full  expression  of  imperial 

169 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

support.  The  Methodists  maintain  that  liberty  and 
justice  for  black  and  white  can  only  be  maintained 
by  the  extinction  of  the  Transvaal  Republic.  The 
Congregationalists  and  Baptists  are  of  like  opinion; 
and  for  once  religious  opinions  of  all  denominations 
are  agreed.  The  Catholics  and  Jews,  save  three 
rabid  Irish  priests  of  the  former,  have  also  taken 
the  same  ground.  These  people  are  on  the  spot,  and 
are  not  all  influenced  by  Rhodes  and  capital.  Then 
the  Americans  in  South  Africa  gathered  at  Cape 
Town  and  passed  an  almost  unanimous  resolution  sup- 
porting the  British  policy,  and  a  unanimous  amend- 
ment advising  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  to 
maintain  individual  neutrality  in  word  and  deed. 

There  was  a  touch  of  pathos  when  the  local 
Mohammedans,  the  descendants  of  the  East  Indians 
shipped  as  slaves  by  the  Dutch  Company,  had  their 
meeting,  and  the  patriarchs  told  the  story  of  the 
horrors  of  the  early  days.  They  passed  resolutions 
of  gratitude  to  England  for  rescuing  their  fathers 
from  slavery,  and  the  imaums  formed  committees  to 
aid  the  British  wounded.  And  so  it  was  up-country 
in  the  native  hraals^  where  the  ignorant  blacks,  des- 
pite the  overbearing  conduct  of  colonists  to  "  damned 
niggers,"  had  learned  the  equality  of  British  justice 
for  black  or  white,  and  were  full  of  loyalty  to 
*'  our  mother  the  Queen,"  even  as  they  expressed 
terrible  hatred  of  the  Boers. 

But,  to  the  war ! 

170 


CHAPTER  VII 

Natal.  —  The  Invasion  South.  —  Armored  Train  Disas- 
ter.— Breaking  Communications.  —  Willow  Grange. 
—  Ladysmith  during  Siege.  —  Formation  of  Reliev- 
ing Column.  —  Buller's  arrival.  —  Commissariat  of 
the  British  Army.  —  Hospital  Service.  —  Ready  for 
Battle. 

Hildyard's  was  the  first  brigade  to  reach  Durban. 
The  enemy  was  then  ravaging  the  country  around 
Pietermaritzburg  and  menacing  the  capital.  Having 
shut  in  White  but  failing  to  take  Ladysmith  by  an 
attack  in  force  on  November  9th,  Joubert  threw  a 
column  boldly  across  the  Tugela.  By  moving  round 
the  flanks  of  British  posts  along  the  railroad,  the 
advance  guard  started  with  a  clear  march  to  the 
coast,  threatening  the  line  at  all  points.  The  fight- 
ing of  the  Ladysmith  garrison  had  disillusioned  the 
least  sanguine  burgher  as  to  the  bravery  of  the  hither- 
to despised  British  soldier,  and  caused  this  raid  to  be 
carried  out  with  caution ;  though  the  surprise  was 
mutual,  for  Natal  was  dumbfounded  at  the  steady 
march  south.  Many  who  knew  the  Boer  well  de- 
clared that  one  salutary  lesson  would  send  the 
burghers  home  ;  but  Talana,  Elandslaagte,  and  Riet- 

171 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

fontein  had  but  served  as  spurs  to  urge  them  to 
greater  effort.  They  had  not  planned  with  passion ; 
they  executed  without  haste,  but  without  hesitancy. 
Factional  exigencies  at  first  marred  their  unity  of 
purpose,  but  the  short  campaign  had  evolved  decisive 
resolution  and  consecutive  execution.  In  place  of  a 
horde  of  herders,  an  effective,  well-armed  enemy,  with 
the  advantage  of  choice  of  position  unusually  fitted 
for  defence,  was  to  be  faced.  The  rapid  arrival  of 
the  first  brigade  of  the  relief  column  disconcerted  the 
advanced  commandoes,  and  they  planned  at  once  to 
cut  the  railroad  line  at  various  points  and  stay  the 
advance,  abandoning  their  raid  to  the  coast,  though 
already  the  very  heart  of  the  colony  was  at  their 
mercy. 

But  even  at  Durban  there  was  some  alarm  until 
Hildyard  arrived,  though  the  presence  of  the  fleet 
rendered  such  fears  ridiculous.  The  Jackies  were 
spoiling  for  a  fight.  The  excitement  of  seizing  prizes 
hardly  sufficed,  and  there  was  little  to  be  gained  but 
hard  work  in  overhauling  neutral  ships.  British  naval 
officers  were  amused  at  the  howl  of  indignation  raised 
at  their  "  unprecedented  "  action  in  holding  up  ships 
going  to  a  port  directly  connected  with  the  enemy. 
For  precedent  they  refer  to  the  Civil  War,  when 
American  warships  held  up  vessels  bound  for  neutral 
ports  in  the  Bahamas  and  which  contained  only  food 
and  clothing,  ultimately  destined,  but  without  proof, 
for  blockade  runners  supplying  the  Confederates. 

172 


A  Seizure  of  Sixty-Two 

Toward  the  close  of  1862,  the  British  steamers 
"  Calypso,"  "  Ruby  "  and  "  Flora,"  bound  for  Nassau 
with  supplies,  coaled  at  Funchal,  Madeira.  While 
in  port,  thousands  of  miles  from  the  scene  of  war, 
they  were  held  up  by  the  United  States  warship 
"  Tuscarora,"  under  Commodore  Craven,  who  cleared 
for  action  and  waited  just  beyond  the  three-mile 
limit.  Forbidden  to  leave  port  at  night,  and  capture 
being  imminent  by  day,  the  steamers  finally  decided 
rather  to  risk  the  Portuguese  guns,  and  they  ran  out 
under  cover  of  the  darkness.  With  the  aim  of  their 
Spanish  cousins,  the  gunners  at  Loo  Fort  failed 
to  hit  the  mark;  but  their  shots  alarmed  the 
"  Tuscarora,"  which  opened  with  a  broadside  on  the 
"  Calypso." 

Unfortunately,  Craven  had  relied  on  the  Portu- 
guese to  hold  the  ships  through  the  night,  and  was 
caught  unawares,  his  three  prizes  finally  escaping 
in  the  darkness,  though  enough  shots  were  fired 
to  have  sunk  the  vessels  had  there  been  sufiicient 
light  for  the  Yankee  gunners.  These  were  British 
ships  sailing  from  one  English  port  to  another,  but 
the  commodore  was  within  his  instructions,  and  the 
prize  court  would  have  sustained  his  captures.  It 
was  refreshing  to  hear  that  a  certain  politician  now 
threatened  war  because  a  British  warship  seized  the 
British  steamer  "  Mashona,"  which  happened  to  have 
American  supplies  on  board,  bound  for  the  Transvaal, 
if  without  the  knowledge  of  the  shippei-s. 

173 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

Natal  is  the  most  progressive  country  in  Africa, 
thanks  to  a  large  preponderance  of  loyalists  over 
colonial  Boers,  and  the  influx  of  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  German  farmers  who  have  proved  excellent 
colonists.  Leaving  party  squabbles  severely  alone, 
the  progressive  Natalians  have  expended  their  energy 
in  the  improvement  of  the  colony,  and  it  stands  a 
monument  to  the  British  colonial  system. 

In  South  Africa  the  nationality  of  the  owner  of  a 
homestead  can  be  told  at  a  glance.  The  Britisher 
takes  some  pride  in  his  farm  and  dwelling,  however 
humble.  The  Boer,  on  the  contrary,  fences  in  as 
much  land  as  he  can  get,  throws  up  a  shanty,  and  is 
content.  Trees,  local  improvements,  intelligent  irri- 
gation are  not  for  him — he  squats  like  a  Cuban 
guajiro^  without  one  of  the  excuses  of  the  latter. 
The  refuse  of  years  is  scattered  over  the  ranch,  his 
stoop  commands  a  muck  heap,  where  the  Britisher, 
however  poor,  insists  on  his  flower-garden.  I  have 
been  greeted  in  Dutch  from  farms  the  pictiu-e  of 
neatness ;  I  found  the  owners  were  Hollanders,  retain- 
ing the  inherent  cleanliness  of  their  race ;  and  with 
such  may  be  classed  the  Germans  and  Danes. 

In  the  comfortable  settlements  in  Natal  the  Boers 
found  a  land  of  promise,  "flowing  with  milk  and 
honey  "  and  defenceless  against  their  looting.  Com- 
mandoes swept  down  from  Helpmakaar  through  the 
Umvoti,  annexing  the  districts,  appointing  one  Vor- 
mack  of  Boeotian  intelligence,  landdrost  at  Umsinga. 

174 


Invasion  of  Natal 

Through  local  traitors,  the  homes  of  the  absenw 
Umvoti  Rifle  Volunteers,  several  of  German  extrac- 
tion, were  "  marked  with  B  "  and  ruthlessly  looted. 
Their  hapless  wives  and  children  were  turned  out  in 
the  storm  with  permission  to  enter  and  help  eat  out 
Ladysmith,  or  make  their  way  down  country  as  they 
might.  These  human  locusts  then  swept  south 
through  the  Highlands,  where  the  unfortunate  farm- 
ers from  North  Natal  had  driven  their  flocks  for 
safety.  Every  ranch  was  filled  with  the  stock  of 
refugees,  and  the  Boers  made  rich  hauls,  ruthlessly 
destroying  the  homes  of  loyalists,  smashing  the  fur- 
niture and  fittings,  and  killing  poultry  and  such 
animals  as  could  not  be  removed.  The  Cooper's 
sheep-dip  stored  at  several  of  the  farms  was  poured 
into  the  ponds  and  wells  to  poison  horse  and  man 
drinking  therefrom. 

The  wholesale  commandeering  from  the  neutral 
heurlings  and  summary  execution  of  the  blacks  who 
opposed  it  only  add  to  the  injustice  of  the  raid. 
The  Catholic  missions  in  northern  Natal  suffered 
severely.  The  peaceful  nuns,  many  Irish  Sisters  of 
Charity,  were  forced  to  flee,  and  suffered  great  in- 
dignities. They  gathered,  however,  to  nurse  sick 
and  wounded  soldiers  at  Eastcourt,  Maritzburg,  and 
Durban,  and  in  common  with  the  devoted  nuns  of 
Mafeking,  Ladysmith,  and  Kimberley,  they  have 
earned  the  everlasting  gratitude  of  the  British  army. 

The  Natalians  had  gathered  at  the  stations  on  the 
175 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

railroad,  where  they  joined  the  volunteers  mobilized 
to  defend  the  colony.  The  Rifle  Associations  were 
also  enrolled  for  defence  under  Symons  and  Ross ; 
but  these  local  forces  and  the  small  garrison  at 
Eastcourt  were  only  able  to  guard  the  towns  and 
railroads,  and  could  do  little  to  check  the  raiders  who 
dodged  around  them  on  the  flanks,  or  Joubert  and 
the  centre  commandoes  advancing  direct,  through 
Colenso,  from  Ladysmith. 

Colonel  Long,  commandant  at  Eastcourt,  prepared 
to  defend  the  township,  though  he  must  eventually 
have  retired  but  for  the  tardy  advent  of  two  naval 
quick-firers  from  Durban.  The  navy  had  seemed 
not  too  ready  to  detach  men  and  guns  for  land 
service,  though,  when  the  grave  aspect  in  Natal 
was  appreciated  on  the  flagship,  guns  and  sailors 
were  landed,  narrowly  averting  more  serious  disas- 
ter in  Ladysmith,  where  the  field  guns  were  out- 
ranged and  ineffective  against  the  improved  guns  of 
the  Boers.  Incidentally,  criticism  gf  Admiral  Harris 
for  his  delay  in  aiding  the  military  led  to  the  duck- 
ing of  a  certain  well  known  Cape  editor  by  a  party 
of  naval  officers  ;  who  overlooked  British  fairness,  and 
have  been  pulled  up  sharply  for  their  folly. 

The  mountings  of  the  naval  guns  for  field  service 
deserve  special  notice.  Captain  Scott,  R.  N.,  secured 
ordinary  broad-tired  wagon-wheels,  bolted  a  stout 
pile  to  the  deck  gun-mounting  for  a  trail,  and  thus 
rigged    field  carriages   for  the   heavy   12-pounders. 

176 


The  Armored  Train  in  Action 

Carriages  for  the  4.7  Lyddite  were  also  constructed 
from  piles.  Though  experts  prophesied  that  the 
baulks  would  be  splintered  by  the  recoil,  and  the 
fastenings  torn  out,  the  guns,  ranged  for  high-angle 
fire,  threw  shell  9,000  yards  and  12,000  yards  respec- 
tively, and  equalled  the  Creusots  of  the  enemy. 
Jack  is  a  bom  wag,  and  ere  the  guns  were  despatched 
up  country,  inscriptions  were  placed  on  each.  "  For 
what  we  are  about  to  receive,  may  the  Lord  make 
us  truly  thankful.  Oom  Paul "  and  "  Those  who 
sup  with  me  will  require  a  devil  of  a  long  spoon " 
ranked  with  others  more  original  if  less  pertinent. 

The  armored  train,  first  used,  perhaps,  in  war  by 
the  French  in  their  successful  sortie  on  the  Saarbruck 
road,  has  played  an  important  part  in  South  African 
warfare  without  enhancing  its  value.  It  was  used 
daily  for  reconnaissance  beyond  Eastcourt  with  slight 
success,  and  well  earned  its  name  "  the  death  trap.'* 
On  November  15th  the  train  with  one  company  each, 
the  Dublin  Fusiliers  under  Captain  Haldane,  and  the 
Durban  volunteers  under  Captain  Wylie,  went  up 
the  line  to  reconnoitre  beyond  Frere.  Boer  pickets 
were  observed  on  the  hills,  but  the  train  went  reck- 
lessly forward  to  Chieveley,  where  it  became  en- 
gaged with  the  enemy  and  started  to  retire.  It  was 
wrecked  on  the  steep  gradient  toward  Frere,  and 
the  concealed  enemy,  bursting  from  the  kopjes, 
opened  on  the  overturned  cars  with  guns  and  rifles. 
Under  a  terrific  fire  several  men  were  shot  before  they 
12  177 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

could  extricate  themselves  from  the  wreck.  The  un- 
injured cars,  cased  in  sheet  iron  and  without  entrance, 
were  not  shell  proof,  and  the  troops  were  forced  to 
clamber  out  of  the  open  tops  to  seek  cover  beyond 
the  permanent  way.     Numbers  were  thus  shot  down. 

Lieutenant  Frankland  was  the  only  officer  unhurt, 
and  with  the  English  Mr.  Winston  Churchill,  who  is, 
of  course,  American  on  his  mother's  side,  and  a  few 
volunteers,  he  started  to  clear  the  wreck.  The  ter- 
rible Vickers  Maxim  poured  in  a  continual  stream 
of  shells,  its  incessant  phut-phut  sounding  like  a 
freight-yard  shunter,  as  it  was  directed  first  on  the 
engine,  then  on  the  damaged  trucks.  Covered  by 
the  ineffectual  firing  of  their  comrades,  the  party 
worked  with  a  will,  however,  and  the  line  was  finally 
levered  clear  under  a  hail  of  projectiles.  The  unin- 
jured trucks  were  then  pushed  up ;  but  a  shell  had 
destroyed  the  engine  coupling,  steam  was  escaping 
from  the  boiler  in  a  dozen  places,  and  delay  in  coupling 
the  cars  with  rope  would  have  sealed  its  fate.  The 
dead  and  wounded,  therefore,  were  loaded  on  the 
tender,  and  while  the  survivors  held  the  Boers  in 
check,  Wegner  turned  on  steam.  Two  parting 
shells  burst  among  his  freight  of  wounded,  mangling 
them  terribly,  but  the  leaking  locomotive  finally  ran 
clear,  and  dashed  off  to  Eastcourt  for  help. 

After  aiding  the  engineer  to  run  out  of  range, 
Churchill  dropped  off  the  cab  and  returned  to  assist 
the  troops,  who   were   now  losing  heavily.     When 

178 


Hildyard's  Brigade 

their  last  cartridge  had  been  expended  some  stood 
by  their  woundeJi  and  were  forced  to  surrender; 
others,  who  attempted  to  escape,  were  followed  and 
shot  down  by  Boer  horsemen.  The  survivors  were 
sent  to  Pretoria,  only  fifty  of  the  entire  party  escap- 
ing scathless. 

General  Hildyard  arrived  at  Eastcourt  on  the  day 
of  the  disaster  to  prepare  camp  for  his  brigade. 
Native  scouts,  Basutos  emploj^ed  for  this  service, 
reported  the  Boers  closing  rapidly  on  the  township. 
There  were  but  150  mounted  troops  in  the  command, 
a  mixed  force  of  volunteers  and  police  under  Colonel 
Martyn.  They  were  soon  in  touch  with  Joubert's 
advance,  but  could  do  little  to  check  the  enemy, 
several  patrols  having  narrow  escapes.  The  Boers, 
however,  fearing  a  rear  attack  from  Weenen,  which 
was  unoccupied,  d^toured  half  their  command  from 
the  railroad  in  that  direction,  and  it  was  three  days 
before  they  appeared  in  force  before  Eastcourt. 

The  West  Yorkshire  regiment  and  Naval  artillery 
detachment  had  arrived  in  the  interval,  and  as  a  com- 
mando moved  from  Gourton  road  and  halted  beside 
the  railroad  bridge  beyond  the  town,  which  it  ex- 
pected to  capture  with  ease,  the  naval  gunners 
dropped  shell  into  it,  and  caused  a  speedy  retire- 
ment. The  remainder  of  Hildyard's  brigade  was 
then  hurried  up  from  Durban,  and  Joubert  decided 
against  attacking.  He  moved  his  forces  round  the 
flanks,  reinforcing  the  looting  column  that  had  moved 

179 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

South  through  Umvoti  to  break  communications  with 
Maritzburg. 

Handicapped  by  lack  of  cavalry,  field  artillery, 
and  transport,  the  British  commander  was  perhaps 
justified  in  delaying  aggressive  operations  until 
he  had  prepared  for  the  defence  of  Eastcourt.  Yet, 
as  the  Boers  marched  in  comparatively  broken  com- 
mands, looting  an  extensive  district,  it  is  open  to  de- 
bate whether  some  hard  blows  might  not  have  been 
struck  to  check  the  unopposed  march  southward. 

Barton's  brigade,  which  had  followed  Hildyard's 
closely,  was  hurrpng  to  the  front,  when  the  Boers 
who  had  moved  round  Hildyard's  flank  seized 
the  railroad  behind  him  at  Highlands  and  Willow 
Grange,  forcing  the  two  companies  of  the  Queen's 
holding  the  stations  to  retire.  Thus,  by  what  Mr. 
Young  would  call  chessboard  strategy,  they  checked 
Barton's  advance  at  Mooi  River  and  isolated  East- 
court.  A  strong  force  with  artillery  occupied 
Mitcheson's  Cutting,  tearing  up  the  line.  The 
Ermelo  commando  simultaneously  destroyed  the 
railroad  from  Eastcourt  to  Colenso  through  Chieve- 
ley  and  Ennersdale.  Making  bonfires  with  the 
tarred  sleepers,  the  burghers  brought  the  rails  to 
a  red  heat  and  twisted  them  round  adjoining  tele- 
graph posts,  thus  rendering  the  relaying  difficult. 

The  Boers  acted  on  the  assumption,  partly  justi- 
fied by  subsequent  fact,  that  the  British  would  not 
or  could  not   leave  the  railroad.     With  astounding 

180 


A  Local  Barbara  Frietchie 

boldness  parties  of  the  mobile  enemy  shelled  the 
camp  at  Mooi  River,  then  passed  rapidly  on  round 
Barton's  flank,  looting  farms  close  to  Weston  and 
seizing  much  stock  destined  for  the  Mooi  River 
abattoirs.  The  railroad  at  Nottingham  road  was 
then  occupied,  and  Barton's  communications  with 
Maritzburg  obstructed.  Thus  two  important  British 
commands,  impotent  through  lack  of  transport  and 
cavalry,  were  rendered  temporarily  ineffective  by 
a  body  of  raiders.  The  stock  of  the  Natal  Stud 
company  proved  a  valuable  remount  depot  for  the 
Boers,  who  cleared  every  animal  from  the  com- 
pound, including  numerous  chargers  that  would 
soon  have  fetched  fancy  prices  from  British  officers. 

The  loyal  farmers  paid  dearly  for  their  loyalty. 
While  they  guarded  the  towns  the  Boers  raided 
the  defenceless  homesteads  as  far  south  and  west 
as  Impendhla,  shooting  such  as  dared  resist  them. 
Mr.  Rawlinson,  a  prominent  colonial,  was  killed 
by  Boshof ;  but  most  of  the  males  were  absent,  and 
the  defenceless  women  and  children  fled  in  abject 
terror  before  the  invaders.  Many  plucky  women, 
however,  defied  the  enemy  and  remained  alone  to 
guard  their  homes. 

Like  the  postmistress  of  Lady  Grey,  who  tore 
down  the  vierhleur  and  hoisted  the  Union  Jack  in 
the  centre  of  an  invading  commando,  or  Barbara 
Frietchie  of  earlier  fame,  one  brave  Scotchwoman, 
nailing  a  flag  over  the  lintel,  confronted  a  looting 

181 


1^ 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

party  with  a  stout  cudgel  and  sharp  tongue.  A 
lusty  Boer,  attempting  to  force  an  entrance  to  the 
house,  was  repulsed  with  a  cracked  pate,  which 
raised  a  laugh  against  him.  Some  then  suggested 
burning  her  out,  but  the  veldt  cornet  intervened, 
and  the  simple  Christians  contented  themselves  with 
driving  off  her  stock,  looting  the  widow's  mealies 
from  an  outhouse,  and  stealing  her  Cape  cart  to 
remove  the  same.     (Matthew  xxiii.  14.) 

This  wholesale  devastation  has  proved  a  hard 
blow  to  plucky  little  Natal,  which  for  its  own  de- 
fence has  spent  $150,000  a  month  on  the  local 
volunteers.  The  colonists  have  also  contributed 
liberally  to  destitute  Uitlanders,  and  in  the  final 
settlement  some  grant  of  land  or  special  railroad 
concessions  should  be  made  to  reimburse  the 
colony. 

Thorneycroft's  Horse  and  Bethuen's  Horse  skir- 
mished along  the  lines  of  communication,  the  former 
attacking  the  enemy  as  they  looted  the  farms  of 
Cope  and  Turner  near  Mooi  River  station,  forcing 
them  to  release  the  two  captured  families,  though 
the  seized  stock  and  furniture  had  previously  been 
removed.  Some  Natal  police  also  found  the  enemy 
looting  along  the  incomplete  Greytown  line,  through 
the  thorn  country,  and  drove  them  off  with  loss. 
But  these  forces  were  as  effective  as  Dame  Part- 
ington's broom.  Ten  times  stronger  numerically, 
these    irregulars   could  have   swept    back    the    in- 

182 


The  Battle  of  Willow  Grange 

vaders,  inflicting  salutary  lessons  with  a  mobility 
and  tactics  equal  to  the  Boers.  But  unfortunate- 
ly, with  the  material  in  plenty  for  the  asking,  Eng- 
land has  not  fostered  her  colonial  auxiliaries,  —  a 
striking  proof  in  South  Africa  that  war  was  not 
antiaipated. 

Hildyard  did  not  long  remain  idle  at  Eastcourt. 
Severely  hampered  by  the  lack  of  cavalry,  he  de- 
cided to  make  a  night  attack  on  the  main  Boer 
position  to  clear  the  line  south  to  Mooi  River.  On 
the  afternoon  of  November  22d  the  general  felt 
his  way  forward  toward  Willow  Grange.  The 
West  Yorks  were  on  the  left,  the  East  Surrey  in 
the  centre,  and  the  Queen's  (West  Surrey)  on  the 
right,  the  Border  Regiment  supporting,  with  the  7th 
Field  Battery  and  a  heavy  naval  quick  firer  hauled 
by  thirty  oxen.  The  force  reached  M'Konghlwani, 
or  Beacon  Hill,  without  opposition  and  by  stupen- 
dous effort  the  naval  gun  was  hauled  up  the  pre- 
cipitous sides  of  the  "  Hill  of  Mists,"  and  placed 
in  position  commanding  the  enemy's  main  battery 
on  Brynbella  Hill.  The  Boer  gunners  under 
Krantz  speedily  found  the  British  gun  and  opened 
very  accurately  with  a  heavy  Creusot.  This  fire 
was  silenced,  however,  before  sunset. 

The  infantry  halted  on  the  hill  in  the  most 
frightful  hailstorm  within  Natal's  memory,  pass- 
ing many  miserable  hours  of  that  bitterly  cold 
night  until  the  order  was  given  to  advance,  to  sur- 

183 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

prise  the  sleeping  laagers.  The  West  Yorks  and 
the  Surreys  under  Colonel  Kitchener,  guided  by  a 
local  farmer  named  Chapman,  advanced  silently 
against  the  position,  and  commenced  to  climb  Bryn- 
bella.  The  Yorks,  who  were  assailing  the  western 
slope,  losing  direction  in  the  darkness,  crossed 
over  a  lower  portion  of  the  ridge,  and  were  fired 
into  by  the  Surrey  men  climbing  up  on  that  side ; 
and  the  lines  clashed  with  fixed  bayonets,  several 
being  killed  and  wounded  ere  the  mistake  was 
discovered. 

The  Boers  were  thoroughly  alarmed,  however,  and 
as  the  British  turned  and  scrambled  up  to  the  higher 
portion  of  the  crest  they  were  met  with  a  withering 
fire.  Guided  by  the  rifle  flashes,  and  not  waiting  to 
reply,  they  closed  in  with  the  bayonet,  the  burghers 
flying  en  masse  down  the  hillside,  leaving  their 
horses,  hobbled  in  their  brutal  three-legged  fashion, 
on  the  summit,  and  all  their  camp  effects.  The  hill 
was  captiu-ed  just  before  daybreak. 

Commandant  Joubert,  nephew  to  the  general,  was 
in  command  at  Willow  Grange,  though  the  similarity 
of  names  led  the  British  generals  to  report  the 
commandant  general  as  commanding  in  person,  and 
General  BuUer's  official  despatch  shows  the  same 
error.  Realizing  the  danger  of  placing  himself  be- 
tween two  forces,  the  younger  Joubert  had  secured 
a  line  of  retreat  through  roads  running  to  Greytown, 
from   which   he   could   circle    round   to   Ladysmith 

184 


The  Battle  of  Willow  Grange 

again.  He  had  been  apprised  of  a  movement  on 
the  south  of  Mooi  River,  the  commando  at  Notting- 
ham road  had  been  forced  to  evacuate  before  they 
had  effectively  destroyed  the  line,  and  the  appear- 
ance of  the  naval  gun  before  him  led  him  to  fear 
a  concerted  attack  on  both  sides.  The  sailors' 
shells  of  the  afternoon  also  had  been  ranged  to  a 
nicety,  and  the  gunners  desired  no  resumption  at 
daybreak. 

Under  cover  of  the  darkness  they  had  made  prepa- 
rations to  hastily  change  their  position;  the  heavy 
gun  had  been  taken  to  a  place  of  safety,  the  five 
field  guns  were  removed  to  a  succeeding  crest.  The 
commandoes  had  just  bivouacked  on  the  two  ridges, 
when  the  British  attacked  and  drove  them  from 
Brynbella. 

The  mounting  of  the  naval  gun  in  broad  daylight 
had  thus  marred  the  surprise  which  otherwise  would 
have  led  to  the  capture  of  the  Boer  artilleiy  and  to 
a  decisive  rout.  For  a  night  surprise  this  gun  should 
never  have  been  moimted.  Its  appearance  naturally 
interpreted  an  intended  move  to  the  watchful  enemy, 
and  its  shells  had  hastened  the  change  of  position. 

As  the  sun  rose  and  the  British  prepared  to  follow 
up  the  retreating  Boers,  they  were  greeted  by  a 
terrific  artillery  and  rifle  fire  from  the  succeeding 
ridge,  and  were  gradually  forced  back  over  the 
crest.  Other  commandoes  closed  in.  The  luckless 
naval  gun  dare  not  shell  with  the  British  within 

185 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

range,  the  field  battery  was  likewise  masked,  and 
without  artillery  support  the  slender  forces  were 
obliged  to  retire.  The  hill  that  had  been  captured 
with  a  loss  of  four  was  evacuated  with  a  casualty 
list  of  over  a  hundred.  The  regiments  were  stead- 
ily withdrawn  under  a  dropping  fire,  the  companies 
consecutively  retiring  and  covering  retirement.  The 
Natal  volunteers  pluckily  supported  this  movement, 
and  carried  down  the  wounded  through  a  hail  of 
bullets.  While  thus  engaged,  Chapman  the  guide, 
Fitzpatrick,  brother  of  the  author  and  reform  leader, 
and  other  prominent  colonials  were  killed. 

Some  British  wounded  were  overlooked,  however, 
during  the  retirement,  every  step  of  which  was  cov- 
ered by  the  Boers.  They  received  excellent  treat- 
ment from  the  Free  State  ambulance  before  they 
were  exchanged.  Many  of  the  burghers  admitted 
their  surprise  that  they  had  not  been  able  to  swoop 
down  and  seize  Durban. 

News  now  came  that  a  force  of  Boers  was  menac- 
ing Eastcourt  on  the  northwest,  and  Hildyard  with- 
drew his  troops  to  hold  the  town.  The  enemy  soon 
retired,  and  plans  for  a  second  attack  on  Willow 
Grange  were  formulated;  but  Joubert,  finding  that 
a  small  column  under  the  Earl  of  Dundonald  was 
feeling  its  way  from  Mooi  River,  and  another  sortie 
from  Eastcourt  was  imminent,  withdrew  his  guns 
and  wagons  on  the  25th.  Circling  round  Hildyard 
within  tempting  striking  distance,  the  entire  Boer 

186 


THE     LADYSMITH      LYRE. 

"Let  him  Lie."— Old  Song. 


Vol.  I     No.  I. 


27th    NOVEMBER,    1899. 


Price— 6  u 


PROSPECTUS 


The  Ladijsmith  Lyre  is  published  to  supply  »  long  felt 
vant.  What  you  wnnt  in  a  besieged  town,  cut  off  from 
the  world,  is  news  which  you  can  absolutely  rely  on  as 
false.  The  rumours  that  pass  from  tongue  to  tongue 
may,  for  all  you  know,  be  occasionally  true.  Our  news 
we  gu4i«nteo  to  be  false. 

In  the  collection  and  preparation  of  falsehoods  we 
sbAll  Bpare  no  effort  and  no  expense.  It  is  enough  for  us 
that  Ladysniith  wsntsatorien  ;  it  shall  have  them. 


It  is  possible,  however,  even  in  the  best  regulated 
newspaper  that  some  truths  may  unavoidably  creep 
in.  To  save  our  readers  the  trouble  of  picking  them 
out,  these  will  be  published  in  .■>  special  column  by  them- 
selves. This  division  of  news,  into  true  and  false,  is 
nn  entirely  new  departure  in  the  history  of  the  public 
press.  Whatever  you  re.id  in  the  space  devoted  lo 
ti-uth,  you  may  believe.  The  rest  of  the  LadymMh 
Lyrt  you  may  believe,  or  not,  as  you  like. 


,  LATEST  LYRES. 

From  ou»  own  DcsroNotSTs. 
(bt  wireless  teleoraphv). 

London,  November  i*. 

A  shell  frflm  Long  Tom  burst  in  tlio  War  Office  this 
Rfteruooii.  General  Brackenbury,  Director  General  of 
Ordnance,  accepted  its  arrival  with  rcxignation.  Several 
reputations  were  seriously  damaged.  Unfortunately  the 
Ordnance  Committee  was  not  sitting.  A  splinter  broke 
nto  the  Foreign  Office  and  disturbed  the  siesta  of  the 
Prime  Minister. 

Mr.  A.  J.  Balfour  has  prepared  a  third  edition  of 
"  Philosophic  Doubt."  The  work  contains  a  new 
rhaptcr  on  the  doubts  entertained  by  the  Cabinet  as 
to  the  probabilities  of  war  with  the  Transvaal.  The 
First  Lord  of  the  Treasury  has  dedicated  the  edition 
to  his  uncle.  Lord  Salisbury. 

Tlie  artillery  intended  for  the  campaign  in  South 
Africa  will  he  despatched  as  soon  as  the  necessary 
ammunition  has  beeu  received  from  the  German 
factories. 

The  Lord  Mayor  has  appointed  a  Mansion  House 
Committee  for  the  relief  of  Ladysmith. 

Mr.  Michael  Davitt,  Dr.  Tanner,  Mr.  Dillon,  and 
Mr.  Swift  McNeill  have  announced  their  intention  of 
joining  the  Irish  Brigade  The  House  of  Commons, 
witliout  demur,  voted  a  grant  in  aid. 

The  Second  Army  Corps  has  been  discovered  in 
the  pigeon  holes  of  the  War  Office. 

Omdurman,  November  13. 

The  Khalifa  has  returned  to  his  palace  on  the 
Nile.  Lord  Kitchenor  is  at  Fashoda.  He  is  march- 
ing south  to  raise  the  siege  of  Ladysmith. 

Poris,  November  10. 

Jl.ijor  Marchand  has  organised  an  expedition  to 
the  sources  of  the  Klip  River.  It  is  rumoured  that 
his  object  is  to  prevent  the  junction  of  the  British 
forces  north  and  south  of  the  Tugela.  The  Govern- 
ment of  th<\  Republic  has  been  warned  that  this  will 
bo  regarded  as  "  an  unfriendly  act. " 

Tho  exhibition  has  been  put  off  until  the  end  of 
the  20th  century  in  order  that  France  may  devote 
her  energies  to  the  subjugation  of  Great  Britain. 

Adis  Adeba,  November  2. 

Monelik  has  declared  war  against  France.  Ho  has 
appealed  to  Great  Britain  for  assistance. 

Later. 

I  am  informed  on  tho  highest  authority  that 
Menelik  has  declared  war  against  Great  Britain,  and 
has  appealed  to  France  for  assistance. 

.lohanncsburg,  November  1^. 

Having  learned  through  the  medium  of  Ttu 
Standard  and  Ihijgeri  Nt\n  that  the  Johannesburg 
commando  are  settled  in  Ladysmith  with  their  wives 
and  families,  several  hundred  vrouwen  left  hurriedly 
for  Natal  (his  morning.  New  and  interastiag  daval- 
opin«Dts  ar*  anticipated. 


St.  Petersburg,  Novembar  20. 

The  Ciar  has  issued  invitations  to  another    Peace 
Conference.       Pretoriii  is  mentioned   as  the  probiAle 
meeting  place.     President  Kruger  has  intimated  that 
the  South  African  P.epublic  will  not  be  represented 
Vienna,  April  I 

News  has  reached  hero  from  «  reliable  source  tlut 
\jOTd  Salisbury  has  igrced  to  the  terms  of  peace  pro- 
posed by  President  Kruger— the  surrtuder  of  that 
jart  of  Natal  now  occupied  by  the  Boers. 

LOCAL  INTELLIGENCE. 

General  Clery  has  withdrawn  his  relieving  colomn 
to  tho  Mooi  River.  Marit^burg  is  almost  deserted. 
Joube'rt  has  gone  south  with  the  greater  part  of  hi* 
force. 

General  Buller  is  at  Cape  Town.  General  French 
is  not  at  Dundee.  Through  cable  rates  from  Lady- 
smith to  London  have  been  reduced  to  3d.  per  word. 

The  Town  Guard  are  undermining  ITmbulwani. 
They  propose  to  blow  up  the  euemy's  guns  with 
cj.anide  of  potassium. 

The  resident  magistrate  at  Imtombi  Camp  hat 
sent  for  his  horses.  He  is  d.^ply  touched  by  tha 
reception  given  to  hi«  cnckful  of  letter*  did 
despatches. 

Mr.  Schalk  Burger  has  scit  a  protest  against  the 
Red  Cross  flag  on  the  hospital  at  the  Town  Halk 
He  has  since  emphasised  the  protest  by  shelling  the 
flag. 

General  Joubert  h.^s  been  invited  to  dismant;e  »he 
forts  on  Pepworth  and  Umbulwaui,  and  to  send  in 
at  prisoners  tho  gunners  who  hoist  the  whito  Ai% 
over  Long  Tom  and  his  brother  Puffing  Billy,  in 
order  that  they  may  load  and  lay  the  guns  in  safety. 

Mrs.  Kruger,  whoso  health  is  excellent,  compltia* 
that  the  President  is  becoming  too  English.  Ho  ua 
longer  goes  to  bod  in  hat  and  boots. 

CHRISTMAS  PUDDINGS! 

CHm8TU.\8  PUDDLNGSII 

Odr  Prize  CoMrRTmoM. 

Do  yon   want  a  Christmas  pudding?       You  will! 
This  is  how  you  can  get  it. 
This  prize  will  be  given  for 

the  host  hiraculou*  nr*n 
from  the  shell  fire  of  the  enemy  between  the  datei  of 
November  2  and  December  20.     The  competition  will 
close  on  December  21st  at  12  noon. 

So   if    you    want    a    Christmas    pudding    delay    uo 
Icnger.       Qo  out  and  have  a  miraculous  etCMpo    and 
send  a  description  of  it  to 
The  Editor  of  the  LadymUk  Ltjn, 

c'o  the  Manager  of  the  Lxdymitt  lyn, 
do  Mrs.  Haydon, 
Uain  Strc4-t, 

Near  31it  Street,  F.B  , 


Facsimile  of  fbont  paob  or  the  paper  issued  ourimo  the  suqs  or  Ladtsmith. 


Joubert  Retires  to  Colenso 

force  fell  back  through  Weenen  to  the  Tugela,  where 
they  took  up  a  strong  position  at  Colenso.  During 
the  retirement  the  heavy  Creusot  became  stuck  in  a 
donga,  and  within  five  miles  of  the  British  a  small 
force  of  Boers  worked  a  day  and  night  extricating 
the  piece,  which  would  have  proved  a  valuable  prize 
had  the  proper  cavalry  complement  been  at  hand  to 
follow  up  the  retreat.  General  Joubert  was  present 
during  the  retirement,  travelling  in  a  six-horsed 
"parish  oven." 

Hildyard's  tiny  mounted  column  could  do  nothing 
until  Lord  Dundonald's  flying  column  pressed  for- 
ward from  Mooi  River.  The  combined  forces  then 
started  in  hot  pursuit,  sighting  the  Boers  beyond 
Frere.  They  failed  to  outmarch  them,  however,  but 
"  bit  their  heels  "  with  artillery  and  rifles  to  within 
two  miles  of  Colenso,  where  heavy  Boer  guns  were  in 
position,  and  the  British  advance  was  checked. 

Hildyard  now  moved  his  camp  to  Frere,  where 
General  Clery  assumed  command  on  December  2d, 
to  prepare  for  the  immediate  relief  of  Ladysmith. 
General  Buller,  leaving  the  direction  of  the  western 
and  central  divisions  of  his  army  to  their  respective 
generals,  had  arrived  in  Natal  to  personally  supervise 
the  more  important  operations  there.  He  established 
his  headquarters  at  Pietermaritzburg. 

The  railroad  bridge  across  the  Blaauwkrans  River 
at  Frere  had  been  carefully  destroyed  by  the  enemy, 
checking  Clery's  advance  up  country.     The  railroad 

187 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

company  had  expected  the  military,  and  hurried 
their  staff  forward  to  repair  the  line.  In  an  incredi- 
bly short  period,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Shores, 
chief  engineer,  and  Mr.  Hunter,  the  general  manager, 
a  trestle  bridge  200  feet  long,  in  seventeen  spans, 
was  constructed  beside  the  ruined  structure,  the 
rails  were  carried  over  the  river  and  reverted  to 
the  original  track.  Gruarded  by  an  armored  train, 
repair-trucks  were  pushed  forward  and  rapidly  re- 
laid  the  line  which  the  Boers  had  taken  so  much 
pains  to  destroy. 

Colonel  Girouard,  one  constructor  of  the  Canadian 
Pacific,  the  famous  Bimbashi  Girouard,  director- 
general  of  railroads  in  Egypt,  the  man  who  con- 
quered the  Soudan  by  steam  engine,  was  acting 
military  director  of  railroads  in  South  Africa.  He 
was  ordered  to  Natal  to  supervise  these  operations, 
but  the  wonderful  colonials  were  before  him,  and  he 
could  only  inspect  their  work  with  a  hearty  "well 
done." 

Trains  now  rapidly  arrived  at  the  front  with  troops 
and  stores.  Hildyard's  brigade  held  the  advance  on 
some  ridges  beyond  the  river.  They  cleverly  in- 
trenched their  position,  masking  their  defences  so 
that  adventurous  Boer  scouts  blundered  into  the  trap 
and  were  her  Majesty's  guests  forthwith. 

The  permanent  camp  soon  spread,  the  General 
Staff  occupying  the  ransacked  house  of  the  station 
master,  the  troops   pitching  their  tents  on  the  sur- 

188 


Communicating  with  White 

rounding  veldt.  The  regulars,  awaiting  complete 
mobilization,  were  employed  in  extensive  garrison, 
fatigue  and  outpost  duty.  The  Natal  forces,  aug- 
mented by  Uitlander  volunteers,  and  the  colonial 
scouts  recruited  from  local  farmers  who  knew  every 
inch  of  the  country  rapidly  checked  the  raiding 
parties,  and  by  surprise  visits  to  the  outlying  farms 
of  suspected  traitors,  much  looted  stock  and  furniture 
that  had  been  stored  by  the  enemy  was  recovered. 
Without  specific  reason  the  splendid  mounted 
volunteers  gathered  by  Colonel  Wolfe-Murray  were 
disbanded  when  General  Buller  arrived ;  and  on  the 
assumption  of  military  superiority,  the  relief  column 
lost  the  services  of  a  most  useful  force. 

Little  definite  news  could  be  gleaned  from  Lady- 
smith  ;  occasional  runners  made  their  way  through 
the  lines  with  despatches,  and  winged  messengers  of 
the  pigeon  post  organized  by  Mr.  Hirst  sometimes 
escaped  the  Boer  rifles  and  brought  down  missives  in 
safety.  But  after  many  attempts  and  repeated 
failure  through  the  weather,  Captain  Cayzer  of  the 
Dragoons  finally  established  heliograph  communica- 
tions with  White,  from  Mount  Umkolanda  near 
Weenen.  A  naval  searchlight  of  40,000  candle 
power  was  also  rigged  to  overcome  solar  reticence  in 
flashing  despatches  to  the  besieged,  though  Ladysmith 
could  not  answer  in  kind,  and  the  Boers  sometimes 
spoiled  the  effect  by  a  powerful  acetylene  searchlight. 

The  garrison  was  holding  out  bravely.  The  town 
189 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

had  been  heavily  shelled  throughout  November,  but 
the  losses  had  been  comparatively  small.  On  Novem- 
ber 4th  White  had  asked  permission  to  send  women 
and  children  south,  but  Joubert  refused.  He  finally 
agreed  to  respect  a  mutual  district  near  Bulwhana 
for  non-combatants,  though  his  indiscriminate 
gunners  dropped  several  shells  into  the  settlement, 
which  the  facetious  "  Tommies "  named  Funkum- 
dorf.  Despite  continual  protest  the  military  hos- 
pitals were  also  shelled  repeatedly,  several  patients 
and  some  nurses  being  killed.  On  the  9th  the  Boers 
had  attempted  to  rush  the  town,  but  the  attack  was 
repulsed  after  severe  fighting  and  loss  on  both  sides. 
After  this,  Joubert  decided  to  reduce  Ladysmith 
by  investment,  and  detached  many  commandoes  to 
carry  the  war  south  and  prevent  the  approach  of 
relief.  On  the  18th  a  shell  killed  Dr.  Stark,  the  well 
known  naturalist,  who  was  overtaken  by  war  while 
completing  his  history  of  South  African  birds.  The 
continued  shelling  had  caused  remarkably  small  loss, 
however,  but  scarcity  of  food,  dearth  of  pasture  for  the 
cattle  and  horses,  and  the  contamination  of  the  water 
supply  by  Boer  camps  higher  up  the  Klip  caused  the 
only  dread  for  the  future.  Many  women  and  children 
were  enduring  the  rigors  of  the  siege,  and  several 
had  died  of  disease  and  wounds. 

The  days  in  Frere  camp  passed  quickly  enough. 
Thomas  Atkins  at  home  and  abroad  is  philosophical 

190 


Tmt  SiBOB  OF  LADY8MITH  :    NON  COMBATANTS   TAKING   A   BREATH  OF   AIR. 

From  a  sketch  by  W.  T.  Maud. 


"  Tommy  "  in  War 

withont  reasoning.  "Delightful  darlings,"  said  one 
enthusiastic  American  lady  as  the  Dragoons  passed 
through  Cape  Town.  Perhaps  a  closer  acquaintance 
would  have  toned  her  opinion,  but  Tommy  is  an  in- 
stitution to  be  admired,  —  in  a  degree,  loved.  He 
is  a  jewel  in  a  crude  setting,  rough,  impulsive,  good- 
hearted,  and  generous  to  a  fault,  and  the  army  is  a 
school  that  fosters  magnanimity.  Rigorous  disci- 
pline eradicates  selfishness,  and  the  communistic 
idea  that  dominates  in  the  ranks  is  so  prevalent  in 
no  other  strata  of  society.  I  have  known  an  entire 
battalion  to  suffer  in  silence  for  the  wrong  committed 
by  one  soldier,  of  which  every  man  knew.  The  young 
recruit  who  thinks  to  win  the  favor  of  his  superiors 
and  release  his  comrades  by  betraying  the  culprit  re- 
ceives such  a  lesson  that,  if  he  does  not  desert  forth- 
with, he  will  be  permanently  steadied  and  become  a 
better  and  wiser  soldier. 

In  the  field  Tommy  is  no  longer  a  thing  of  beauty. 
The  guardsman  discards  his  cuirass  and  shiny  jack- 
boots ;  the  gunner's  braid,  the  linesman's  scarlet,  and 
the  fusilier's  busby  are  gone.  Khaki  levels  most  dis- 
tinctions, and  attired  in  dust  color,  from  helmet  to 
undressed  boots,  close  scrutiny  alone  reveals  the  dif- 
ference between  her  Majesty's  guardsman  and  the 
green  roohey  smuggled  from  the  depot  by  the  drafted 
veterans  to  become  a  "  soldier  and  a  man "  and  be 
added  to  the  strength  at  the  front,  with  a  District 
court-martial  to  reward  him  if  he  survives  the  war. 

191 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

But  even  he  is  content;  he  'listed  to  fight,  and  fought 
he  has,  the  penalty  notwithstanding. 

The  British  soldier  is  a  glutton  for  fighting.  At 
Eastcourt  two  worthies  of  the  Dublins,  veritably 
Mulvany  and  Learoyd,  had  lifted  a  bottle  of  "  square 
face"  from  the  captured  laager  at  Willow  Grange. 
A  subsequent  night's  outpost  proved  cold  and  wet, 
and  consequent  nips  to  drive  out  rheumatism  (their 
excuse  was  the  gout)  led  two  shame-faced  full  pri- 
vates before  a  drum-head,  with  six  months'  hard 
labor  apiece  for  "drunk  on  duty  in  time  of  war." 
They  had  nothing  to  say  why  sentence  should  not 
be  pronounced,  but  asked  (and  received),  as  a  favor, 
deferment  in  the  execution  thereof  until  after  the 
war.  Their  main  discussion  then  was  the  chances  of 
their  being  incarcerated  in  British  Pretoria  or  going 
home  with  the  regiment  to  see  "her"  before  they 
went  to  "clink."  But  one  has  expiated  before  a 
higher  tribunal,  killed  at  Colenso.  The  other,  I  be- 
lieve, may  yet  serve  out  his  sentence,  though  the  day 
perhaps  is  afar. 

When  the  column  moved  forward,  and  fighting 
was  imminent,  the  quartermaster  sergeants  reported  a 
number  of  sick  men  returned  to  duty  without  regular 
transfers.  The  pressure  on  the  Medical  Staff  corps 
was  adjudged  an  excuse  for  this  negligence.  Then 
a  report  arrived  at  headquarters  from  the  P.  M.  O. 
at  Pietermaritzburg,  announcing  wholesale  desertion 
of  patients  marked  "  Up  Bed  down, "  many  of  them 

192 


'    The  Spirit  of  the  Soldier 

wounded  from  Willow  Grange.  On  the  eve  of  battle 
there  was  no  time  to  look  up  the  defaulters ;  but  after 
the  action  the  P.  M.  O.  reported  that  certain  of  the 
delinquents  had  been  brought  back,  wounded  again, 
from  the  front.  The  others  were  soon  traced,  and 
lined  up  before  a  gray-haired  colonel  as  "  absent  from 
hospital  without  leave."  There  was  a  perceptible 
tremor  in  his  voice  as  he  rated  them  severely  for 
their  breach  of  discipline  and  the  enormity  of  their 
crime,  and  he  stopped  to  clear  his  throat  once  or 
twice.  After  a  severe  wigging  these  "desperados" 
were  sent  back  to  their  wards. 

I  could  fill  pages  to  show  the  spirit  animating  the 
soldiers  in  Africa,  and  give  the  lie  direct  to  the  mis- 
taken gentleman  who  visited  the  Transvaal  when 
an  official  of  the  United  States  government.  Over- 
whelmed by  the  attentions  and  private  coach  of 
President  Kruger,  he  has  anonymously  libelled  the 
British  army  by  declaring  that  officers  were  forced 
to  slash  their  soldiers  with  their  swords  to  keep 
them  in  the  trenches  —  as  great  a  truism  as  the  pre- 
mature cartoon  in  "Don  Quixote,"  that  pictured 
General  Miles  on  a  donkey,  lashing  the  American 
troops  into  line  to  face  the  Spanish  foe. 

With  picket,  outpost,  and  railroad  guard  at  night, 
and  fatigue  duty  by  day,  Frere  camp  was  not  a  pic- 
nic. Much  of  the  rough  work  was  too  arduous  for 
white  men  to  perform  with  safety  under  South 
Africa's  sun.  But  a  native  contingent,  enrolled  by 
13  193 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Mr.  Barnes,  colonial  engineer,  afterwards  saved  the 
troops  much  toil,  and  the  native  compounds  gave 
"Tommy"  endless  recreation  when  the  tireless  Kaffirs 
and  Zulus  squirmed  and  screamed  through  the  in- 
tricacies of  their  war-dances  or  engaged  in  faction 
fights,  when  skulls  were  struck  with  the  vehemence 
of  Donnybrook,  though  hard  is  the  blow  that  can 
harm  the  cast-iron  native  pate.  Hunts  for  the 
abundant  puff-adder,  tournaments  between  scorpions, 
cricket  and  football,  with  the  glass  above  100,  and 
dips  in  the  sorry  Blaauwkrans  river  redubbed  at 
Frere  "Margate  Sands  "  served  to  pass  the  waiting 
hours. 

Storms  in  Natal  are  common  and  various;  the 
veldt  is  alternately  soaring  heavenward  in  a  choking 
swirl  of  red  dust,  or  drinking  in  the  flood  of  periodic 
downpours  to  become  a  slough  for  man  and  beast. 
By  day  the  South  African  sun  beats  down  with  a 
truly  Gold  Coast  force,  but  without  the  fetid  swamp 
to  turn  the  heat  to  humidity;  at  night  one  shivers 
with  a  blast  that  chills  to  the  marrow.  Alternately 
you  covet  the  furs  of  the  esquimaux  and  the  Ashanti's 
necklace. 

Abnormal  deflection  of  the  southeast  trade-winds 
to  south  and  southeastern  Africa  made  the  summer 
an  exceedingly  wet  one,  though  the  rains  produced 
ultimate  good.  But  the  deflection  imposed  a  fright- 
ful calamity  on  another  portion  of  the  empire,  caus- 
ing one   of  the   most  frightful  famines   in   India's 

194 


Khaki 

modern  history,  supplemented  by  the  incumbent 
horrors  of  the  plague. 

Khaki,  I  believe,  was  used  first  in  the  days  of  the 
John  Company's  service.  The  official  who  adopted 
it  for  general  campaign  use  deserves  that  his  name 
go  down  with  fame.  In  the  curious  sun-haze  of  the 
tropics  it  is  well-nigh  invisible,  and  since  the  reflec- 
tion on  spur  or  scabbard  is  visible  for  miles,  every- 
thing was  treated  with  the  dust  color,  even  to  lance 
points,  and  the  nose  of  a  bibulous  camp-follower  who 
"groused"  at  the  "Tommies,"  and  was  duly  tried  by 
them  and  treated  with  the  prevailing  color  as  a  safe- 
guard to  the  camp.  The  white  horses  of  the  cavalry 
and  transport  were  washed  in  Condy's  fluid,  which 
gave  the  required  tint  without  the  fatal  effect  of  the 
coating  applied  to  the  historical  "white  "elephant. 

It  is  evident  that,  with  the  weapons  of  the  present 
day,  no  attacking  force  otherwise  garbed  could  live 
before  the  fire  of  intrenched  defenders.  With  khaki, 
the  lines  in  extended  order  on  the  sun-browned  veldt 
are  a  poor  and  difficult  target  beyond  five  hundred 
yards,  and  this  invisibility  in  a  measure  neutralizes 
the  deadliness  of  flat  trajectory  and  increased  range 
and  dangerous  zone  of  modern  warfare.  The  officers 
had  learned  the  lesson  slowly,  for  tradition  dies  hard 
in  the  British  army,  and  not  until  unerring  bullets 
had  picked  off  some  of  the  bravest  and  best  did  they 
perceive  that  polished  buttons  and  regulation  sword 
meant  useless  death  before  the  Boer  sharpshooters. 

195 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Now  they  carried  carbines,  and  had  little  insignia 
to  mark  them  apart  from  their  men.  The  unwritten 
law  that  an  officer  must  never  duck,  and,  eschewing 
cover,  should  inspire  confidence  in  his  men  by  walk- 
ing erect  along  the  line,  was  sustained  well  into  the 
war,  and  still  has  weight.  Before  modern  rifles  the 
risk  is  obvious  and  the  rule  calamitous,  since  the  sight 
of  officers  falling  demoralizes  the  finest  troops. 

Wellington  found  that  the  British  army  marched 
on  its  belly.  Certainly  with  the  Army  Service  corps 
of  the  last  few  years  there  is  no  reason  why  it  should 
not.  War,  and  not  an  expected  war,  was  proved  in- 
evitable on  October  1st,  and  in  eight  weeks  an 
army  corps  fully  equipped  was  operating  nine  thou- 
sand miles  away,  replete  in  every  detail,  as  the 
advertisements  say. 

It  is  estimated,  from  the  experience  of  the  Prussians 
marching  to  Paris,  that  a  force  of  35,000  men  and 
10,000  horses  can  live,  in  an  average  country,  off  a 
district  of  six  square  miles  for  one  day.  With  cattle 
driven  off  and  farms  looted,  a  force  could  exist  in 
South  Africa  until  it  died  of  starvation.  Conse- 
quently every  ounce  of  food  was  necessarily  sent  from 
the  Supply  Depots.  Before  the  extra  divisions  were 
mobilized,  when  most  people  bragged  of  Buller's 
Christmas  in  Pretoria,  12,000,000  pounds  of  canned 
meat  had  been  delivered  for  the  original  South  Afri- 
can field  force. 

Though  Australian  and  some  Canadian  meat  has 
196 


A  Question  of  Commissariat 

since  been  issued  with  great  success,  this  was  chiefly 
American  beef  delivered  for  a  foreign  army,  which 
is  very  different  from  American  beef  for  American 
soldiers.  I  have  lived  and  thrived  on  this  beef 
under  the  British  flag  in  various  climes  at  differ- 
ent times.  But  before  and  since  Santiago,  I  have 
never  met  with  the  canned  offal  which  there  caused 
the  death  of  many  brave  soldiers.  The  beef  sup- 
plied to-day  in  South  Africa  bears  little  resem- 
blance to  the  ration  sent  to  Cuba. 

Of  biscuit,  12,000,000  pounds  were  shipped.  A 
part  of  this  ration  was  made  from  whole  meal.  The 
British  army  biscuit  is  harder  to  masticate  than 
the  finer  grade  of  "  hardtack  "  supplied  to  the  United 
States  army,  and  though  it  contains  more  nutriment, 
I  believe  too  much  of  it  is  irritating  to  the  bowels 
and  produces  dysentery.  The  wooden  cases  are  lined 
with  tin  and  the  contents  carefully  protected,  while 
in  Cuba  the  gaping  seams  of  the  unlined  boxes  let 
in  rain,  imbibed  the  mud  and  spoilt  tons  of  excel- 
lent ration  ere  it  reached  the  front.  The  British 
field-bakeries  also  supply  excellent  fresh  bread,  which 
was  a  great  though  never  s.upplied  want  in  Cuba. 
400,000  lbs.  of  coffee;  200,000  lbs.  of  tea;  2,200,000 
lbs.  of  sugar;  800,000  lbs.  of  erhswurst,  compressed 
vegetables,  an  excellent  and  healthful  ration  "made 
in  Germany,'*  used  with  success  in  the  Franco  Prus- 
sian War,  and  one  the  Quartermaster's  Department 
should  investigate  without  delay  for  garrisons  in  the 

197 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Antilles  and  Philipines;  360,000  tins  of  Swiss  milk, 
400,000  lbs.  of  salt,  and  60,000  tons  of  forage,  — 
were  early  items  shipped  for  the  initial  campaign. 
This  supply  has  been  regularly  sustained  by  the  aver- 
age weekly  shipment  of  one  and  a  half  million  rations. 

I  must  also  include  in  the  first  consignment  500,000 
tins  of  the  Machonochie  ration  of  stewed  beefsteak 
and  vegetables.  This  has  been  tried  successfully  in 
several  recent  campaigns,  and  a  similar  or  even  better 
ration  could  be  prepared  for  the  United  States  War 
Department  at  a  moderate  figure.  When  a  great  and 
generous  nation  was  ready  to  expend  millions  for  its 
army  in  Cuba,  the  troops  were  starving  on  rancid 
pork  and  canned  refuse  from  a  beef-tea  factory.  The 
Machonochie  is  a  full  and  luscious  dinner  of  meat 
and  vegetables  for  two  men,  in  a  portable  can.  The 
tin  is  self-opening  and  may  be  readily  heated,  or  its 
contents  eaten  cold.  In  Cuba  it  would  have  proved 
a  boon,  even  in  a  bi-weekly  issue.  It  has  been  supple- 
mented in  Africa  by  other  compound  rations,  chiefly 
Scotch.  The  square  cans  used  for  all  rations  in  the 
British  army  have  every  advantage  for  portability  over 
the  round  cans  supplied  to  the  United  States  Army. 

One  of  the  greatest  hardships  entailed  on  the 
American  soldier  has  been  the  lack  of  anti-scorbutics 
when  fresh  meat  and  vegetables  were  not  obtainable. 
400,000  lbs.'  weight  of  lime-juice  accompanied  the 
African  field  force.  In  Ashanti  an  experimental 
issue  of  jam  was  made  on  alternate  days  with  lime- 

198 


Camp  Sanitation 

juice,  with  excellent  results.  1,450,000  tins  were 
now  shipped  with  the  above  consignment.  The  pre- 
served fruit  retains  many  useful  properties  of  fresh 
vegetable  food. 

Eighty  tons  of  alum  for  purifying  water,  6,000  lbs. 
of  carbolic-acid  powder,  and  20  tons  of  chloride  of 
lime  are  significant  items  in  the  light  of  the  frightful 
defilation  at  Siboney,  where  there  was  no  means  to 
negative  the  evil  which  induced  yellow  fever  and 
typhoid  to  an  alarming  extent.  The  perfect  latrine 
system  of  the  British  army  deserves  emulation.  The 
sinks  are  deeply  dug  a  safe  distance  from  camp, 
layers  of  earth  and  lime  being  thrown  over  by  sen- 
tries at  regular  intervals,  and  each  sink  filled  in  after 
two  days'  use. 

Rum  issued  medicinally  to  every  man  before  retir- 
ing, has  been  proved  effective  when  troops  are  ex- 
posed on  chill  nights  after  great  heat  during  the  day. 
80, 000  gallons  were  sent.  In  tropical  West  Africa  I 
have  found  this  to  be  an  effective  safeguard  against 
the  deadly  night-dew  for  men  not  addicted  to  spirits. 
Its  effect  is  neutralized  with  habitual,  even  if  mod- 
erate, drinkers. 

The  medical  comfort  panniers  and  boxes  that 
accompany  the  British  army  on  the  march  also  de- 
serve notice.  The  sick  and  wounded  in  Cuba  had 
the  choice  of  rancid  pork  and  hardtack  or  nothing. 
The  British  "  Tommy "  when  sick  is  moderately 
dieted  on  port  wine,  chicken  broth,  and  beef  tea, 

199 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

though  at  times  the  demand  exceeded  the  supply  at 
the  immediate  front  after  important  battles.  By  this 
means  many  men  are  rapidly  nursed  back  to  health 
at  the  field  hospital,  the  sickness  taken  in  its  early 
stages  being  easily  defeated  without  necessitating 
invaliding  to  the  base  for  treatment.  The  M.  C. 
panniers  go  on  mule  back  with  each  bearer  company 
and  field  hospital.  They  contain  brandy,  port,  whis- 
key, arrowroot,  sago,  bovril,  roast  chicken,  meat 
essence,  special  condensed  milk,  soap,  candles,  spirit 
lamp,  cooking  vessels,  and  matches. 

Forty  thousand  pounds  of  tobacco  were  shipped  to 
be  retailed  to  the  soldiers  at  a  nominal  figure.  This 
is  the  only  approach  made  toward  the  excellent 
American  system  of  instituting  a  government  store 
at  the  advanced  base  on  the  field,  where  necessaries, 
and  at  times  delicacies,  can  be  purchased  at  a 
moderate  price.  The  regimental  coffee  shop  hardly 
supplies  this  want.  Tons  of  tobacco,  cigars,  and 
cigarettes  were  sent  with  other  extras  for  distribution 
to  .each  regiment  by  various  patriotic  persons  and 
societies  in  England  and  the  colonies. 

The  regulation  daily  ration  per  man  is :  meat, 
1  lb. ;  biscuit  or  bread  1  lb. :  tea  :|:  oz. ;  coffee  ^  oz. ; 
sugar,  3  oz. ;  marmalade  or  jam,  J  lb. ;  salt,  J  oz.  ,• 
pepper,  -^  oz. ;  vegetables,  2  oz. ;  lime-juice,  J  oz. ; 
rum  ^  pint.  The  canned-meat  ration  is  supplemented 
when  possible  by  rations  of  pea  soup,  bacon,  and 
a  new  preparation  of  powdered  egg  called  ovo.    Beef 

200 


The  Emergency  Ration 

or  mutton  on  the  hoof  is  also  obtained  when  possible. 
United  States  Quartermaster  General,  please  copy. 

Each  soldier  also  carries  a^  part  of  his  equipment 
an  emergency  ration  so  often  advocated,  apparently 
without  effect,  by  General  Miles.  Such  a  ration  will 
save  many  lives  in  every  war.  The  regulation 
ration,  packed  compactly  in  a  flattened  oval  tin  with 
two  compartments,  consists  of  4  oz.  of  compressed 
cocoa,  honey,  and  Iceland  moss,  and  4  oz.  of  Austra- 
lian pemmican,  —  beef  dried,  ground  to  powder,  and 
compressed.  It  can  only  be  opened  by  order  of  an 
officer  or  in  extremity,  and  will  maintain  strength  for 
two  days. 

Food  for  horse  and  mule  forms  an  important  item 
in  South  Africa.  Three  ordinary  trusses  of  hay,  each 
twenty  inches  thick,  are  forced  by  hydraulic  pressure 
into  an  eighteen-inch  bundle  the  original  length  of 
the  truss.  This  mass,  hard  as  wood,  is  then  sawn 
into  three  sections  for  easy  transportation.  A  full 
ration  per  horse  is  oats  12  lbs.,  forage  20  lbs. 

To  gauge  the  efficacy  of  the  Woolwich  Supply 
Department  under  Colonel  Dunne,  a  single  week's 
shipment  early  this  year  was  — 

Meat    .    .    1,209,392  rations.  Pepper .    .  1,668,966  rations. 

Biscuit.     .     1,174,600      «  Vegetables  2,257,492      " 

Tea  &  Coffee  6,109,296      «  Lime-juice  1,505,280      « 

Jam     .    .    2,091,936      "  Rum    .     .  5,047,774     « 

Salt.    .     .  12,615,680      «  Oats    .     .  .    .  1,825  tons. 

Sugar  .     .     6,336,667      "  Hay     ....    450     ♦♦ 

201 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

All  these  supplies  were  carefully  inspected  before 
shipment,  and  tons  were  rejected  for  trivial  short- 
comings. 

As  the  army  of  deliverance  advanced  to  the  front 
a  line  of  pain  moved  from  up-country  hospitals  to 
make  room  for  fresh  casualties.  It  was  pitiful 
to  witness  the  difference  between  the  stalwart  men 
"going  up,"  eager  for  the  fray,  and  the  shattered 
wrecks  who  had  borne  the  brunt  of  early  battles. 
But  the  examples  of  war  raised  desire  for  reprisal 
rather  than  fear  in  the  hearts  of  the  new-comers,  many 
of  whom  were  destined  ere  long  to  be  stark  on  the 
veldt  or  a  regimental  unit  C/-Medical  Staff  corps. 

If  war  has  increased  in  its  horrors  so  have  the 
means  of  mitigating  its  sufferings  correspondingly 
progressed.  A  peep  into  the  base-hospital  at  Wyn- 
berg,  a  high  suburb  of  Cape  Town,  showed  what 
might  be  accomplished  in  a  short  time.  Some  of  the 
buildings  sprang  up  or  were  improvised  in  a  night, 
equipment  was  supplied  with  a  generous  hand,  and 
Colonel  Anthonisz,  R.  A.  M.  C,  had  the  finest  military 
hospital  that  war  history  records.  Then  there  were 
hospitals  at  Durban,  Maritzburg,  and  Eastcourt, 
besides  the  efficient  field  hospitals  with  the  columns 
and  various  hospital  ships,  and  several  convalescent 
homes. 

I  do  not  wish  to  make  invidious  comparisons  between 
American  and  British  wars  under  modern  conditions. 

202 


Surgery  and  War 

But  in  care  and  commissariat  the  British  soldier  is 
a  pampered  epicure  compared  to  the  American,  and 
when  one  sees  the  egregious  blunders  of  the  British 
leaders  and  the  faults  of  their  system,  the  thought 
will  arise.  What  would  Shafter's  army  have  done 
under  such  conditions?  Spain's  disabilities  saved 
disaster  in  Cuba;  but  if  another  war  should  come, 
which  God  forbid,  this  nation  should  not  again  be 
found  unprepared.  Think  of  the  handful  of  surgeons 
that  landed  in  Cuba,  and  the  frightful  absence  of 
equipment  or  common  appliances.  With  BuUer's 
army  in  its  original  form  were,  282  medical  officers, 
68  contract  surgeons,  56  nursing  sisters,  28  quarter- 
masters, R.  A.  M.  C,  2,650  hospital  orderlies.  This 
staff  has  been  proportionately  increased  with  the 
South  African  field  force. 

As  the  fortunate  recipient  of  three  Mauser  bullets 
I  can  testify  to  the  merciful  qualities  of  the  modern 
rifle.  The  penetration  and  cleanly  qualities  of  the 
nickel-plated  bullets  are  too  well  known,  perhaps,  to 
need  recapitulation.  When  Mr.  Marshall,  the  war 
correspondent,  was  shot  in  the  spine,  such  wounds 
were  precedentedly  fatal.  A  number  of  soldiers  have 
surprised  the  British  surgeons  with  similar  recoveries. 
Men  shot  through  the  brain  have  also  recovered. 
But  unfortunately  the  Boers  soon  discovered  the 
temporary  disablement  of  the  wounds  that  they  in- 
flicted, and  they  speedily  remedied  the  "  defect." 

Prisoner  after  prisoner  has  been  found  with  his 
203 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

ammunition  doctored  by  an  incised  cross  on  the  nose  of 
the  bullet,  which  makes  it  spread  far  more  terribly  than 
the  Dum  Bum,  Some  also  have  been  found  with 
their  bullets  plastered  with  verdigris.  Individual 
British  soldiers  have  retaliated  by  filing  the  tips 
of  their  bullets,  after  the  Dum  Dum  pattern,  until 
detected  and  the  men  severely  punished.  But  pause 
in  your  denunciations,  good  people.  Your  horror  of 
Boer  barbarism  may  be  mitigated  by  the  knowledge 
that  the  evil  of  poisoned  bullets  is  greatly  mitigated 
by  heat  generated  in  discharge  and  the  rapid  flight 
through  the  air.  The  incised  bullet  contravenes 
civilized  warfare,  but  the  Boer  individually  knows  not 
of  Geneva  conventions.  As  to  the  British  Dum  Dum, 
though  I  can  positively  state  that  it  has  not  been 
issued  in  South  Africa,  it  is  certainly  less  inhumane 
than  the  leaden  bullets  of  the  Springfield  used  in  Cuba, 
or  those  of  any  other  rifle  used  in  war  before  the 
recent  adoption  of  coated  pellets. 

The  factory  at  Dum  Dum,  Calcutta,  turns  out  sev- 
eral kinds  of  ammunition  for  Indian  use,  and  the 
cases  marked  Dum  Dum  found  by  the  Boers  at  Dun- 
dee contained  regulation  cartridges  made  there, — 
not  Dum  Dum  bullets.  Mr.  Webster  Davis  is  trium- 
phantly exhibiting  split  bullets  of  English  make, 
"therefore  used  by  Buller's  forces."  These  bullets 
are  nosed  sporting  bullets  made  by  Eley  of  London. 
Tons  of  these  have  been  shipped  to  the  Boers  for 
hunting,  and  I  have  seen  several  cases  of  them  cap- 

204 


Improved  Surgical  Methods 

tured  after  various  battles.  They  cannot  be  used 
in  the  Lee  Metford  rifle,  and  the  fact  of  their  imprint 
by  a  private  London  firm  rather  negatives  than 
proves  the  charge  that  they  are  used  by  the  British. 

Surgical  science,  indeed,  is  triumphing.  With 
Rontgen  rays  in  the  field  hospital,  painful  probing 
is  obviated,  shell  splinters  and  certain  bullets  are 
extracted  by  magnetic  contact,  anaesthetics  are  admin- 
istered for  all  painful  operations,  and  antiseptic 
treatment  reduces  the  risk  of  gangrenous  complications 
to  a  minimum.  Ice  can  now  be  supplied  at  the  front, 
even  in  Natal's  inferno.  Hospital  trains  fitted  on  the 
American  sleeping-car  principle,  carry  the  patients 
gently  down  to  the  base,  and  hospital  ships  with 
electric  punkah  wallahs  and  many  a  delicacy,  take  the 
invalid  home. 

The  healthy  reputation  of  South  Africa  notwith- 
standing, troops  cannot  sleep  and  march  and  fight 
for  days,  without  shelter  and  often  without  food,  in 
alternate  pouring  rain,  blistering  sun,  and  chilling 
wind.  The  strongest  constitution  will  be  broken 
down  under  the  strain.  Enteric  fever,  dysentery, 
and  typhoid  ensue,  and,  despite  all  precautions, 
they  will  outnumber  bullets  in  their  deadly  claim 
for  mess  numbers. 

Reinforcements  were  rapidly  landed  to  augment 
Clery's  force.  The  early  and  sometimes  fatal  dis- 
position to  mass  troops  at  the  base  until  the  brigades 

205 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

were  completed  was  superseded,  and  single  battalions 
were  sent  forward  as  soon  as  landed.  During  the 
mobilization  the  departmental  corps  were  making 
preparations  for  an  advance  in  force,  and  the  in- 
fantry worked  continually,  unloading  stores,  while 
the  staff  completed  the  details  of  the  component 
parts  of  the  complex  military  machine  that  must 
work  smoothly  and  in  order,  for  effect  in  war  and 
peace. 

Major  Elliott,  R.  E.,  taking  his  life  in  his 
hand,  rode  out  daily  to  sketch  the  Boer  positions 
beyond  the  Tugela.  The  colonial  scouts  scoured 
the  country,  and  patrolled  along  the  front,  while 
Major  Chichester,  the  provost  marshal,  rounded  up 
a  few  disloyal  farmers  in  the  district  and  sent  them 
to  Maritzburg  for  safe  keeping.  These  rebels  had 
spied  and  looted,  and  sniped  at  the  scouts.  Perhaps 
any  country  but  the  United  States  and  England 
would  have  shot  them.  The  Germans  summarily 
executed  French  civilians  who  operated  in  any  way 
against  them ;  but  these  Natal  traitors  were  British 
subjects,  and  deserved  no  mercy  under  the  rules  of 
war.  I  by  no  means  advocate  extreme  measures, 
but  I  have  seen  so  much  inexcusable  treachery 
among  the  Cape  Dutch  that,  while  I  admire  British 
magnanimity  as  politic  and  humane,  I  wonder  that 
some  general  has  not  hung  a  few  as  a  salutary 
warning  to  flagrant  disloyalty. 

On  December  6th  a  service  was  held  over  the 
206 


Impressive  Funeral  Services 

graves  of  the  first  heroes  to  fall  in  the  relief  of 
Ladysmith,  —  the  victims  of  the  armored  train  dis- 
aster. Over  two  thousand  troops  attended,  with 
General  Hildyard,  Colonel  Cooper,  Prince  Christian 
Victor,  and  many  other  officers.  Doctrinal  differ- 
ences are  forgotten  in  war,  and  since  Dublins  and 
Colonials  lay  together.  Father  Mathews,  the  plucky 
chaplain  of  the  Fusiliers,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Twemlow, 
of  the  Colonials,  combined  for  a  simple  and  touching 
service,  a  possible  tribute  to  the  reunion  of  Christen- 
dom. As  the  farewell  volleys  echoed  over  the  kopjes, 
the  bugles  softly  sounding  the  "  last  post,"  distant 
minute  guns  boomed  at  Ladysmith  as  if  conscious 
of  the  ceremony,  and  a  salvo  of  heaven's  artillery 
reverberated  through  the  mountains,  typifying  the 
insignificance  of  man  in  all  his  martial  power. 

The  commander-in-chief  arrived  at  Frere  during 
the  early  hours  of  the  6th,  the  eager  troops  turning 
out  in  the  darkness  to  give  their  leader  a  welcome 
that  must  have  touched  his  soldier  heart.  Sir 
Redvers  BuUer  has  earned  no  feather-bed  honors; 
his  V.  C,  G.  C.  B.,  and  K.  C.  M.  G.  have  been  won 
with  the  sword  in  a  literal  sense,  and  "Tommy 
Atkins,"  who  is  a  connoisseur  of  generals,  had  and 
has  unbounded  confidence  in  him  as  a  leader.  On 
the  morrow  he  was  to  celebrate  his  sixtieth  birthday ; 
twenty  years  before,  he  had  spent  that  anniversary 
in  South  Africa,  at  no  great  distance  from  Frere, 
fighting  the  Zulus  to  save  the  Boers  from  annihila- 

207 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

tion.  At  the  head  of  the  Frontier  Light-horse,  he 
hacked  his  way  through  the  victorious  blacks,  at 
the  head  of  his  men,  and  turned  the  tide  of  Chelms- 
ford's misfortunes  with  the  savage  foe  at  Ulundi. 
Later  he  witnessed  Boer  ingratitude,  and  silently 
had  to  see  the  flag  withdrawn  from  the  Transvaal. 

Now  he  was  back  in  South  Africa,  sending  a  force 
to  protect  the  Zulus  from  Transvaal  aggression 
and  leading  an  army  to  crush  the  power  to  which 
he  had  indirectly  contributed  in  1880.  The  army 
knew  him  as  early  as  the  Red  River  Expedition 
and  the  subsequent  war  in  West  Africa,  at  an  age 
when  few  officers  are  known.  It  hailed  him  as  the 
saviour  of  Graham's  force  from  Dervish  hordes,  the 
hero  of  Tami,  where  he  commanded  a  truly  British 
square  of  Gordon  Highlanders,  Royal  Irish,  and  his 
old  regiment,  the  60th  Rifles.  In  '85  he  dashed 
across  the  desert  to  take  command  of  Stewart's 
decimated  column,  extricating  the  hapless  force  and 
bringing  it  to  the  Nile. 

In  the  ranks  General  Buller  is  respected  as  a  stern 
disciplinarian.  Squire  Buller,  Lord  of  the  Court 
of  "  Canon  Fee  "  and  of  the  Manor  of  Crediton,  is 
loved  by  the  sturdy  Devon  farmers,  and  receives 
a  warm  welcome  when  his  military  duties  enable 
him  to  live  at  the  demesne  of  Downes.  Thus  he 
combines  the  essential  qualities  for  a  commanding- 
general,  —  the  strict  discipline  of  the  soldier,  toned 
with  tactful  geniality  as  an  administrator. 

208 


Ax    Al'FAlIt    OK    Ol-Tl'OSTS. 

Brawn  by  John  Char/ton,  from  a  sketch  by  W.  T.  Maud. 


News  from  Ladysmith 

A  few  hours  after  his  arrival  in  camp,  General 
Buller  accompanied  Lord  Dundonald's  cavalry  bri- 
gade in  a  reconnaissance  along  the  Tugela.  The 
force  halted  on  a  ridge  within  range  of  Colenso,  and 
the  staff  carefully  studied  the  Boer  position,  appar- 
ently unnoticed  by  the  enemy.  The  fords  of  the 
river  were  carefully  noted,  and  the  party  returned 
safely,  to  formulate  the  plan  of  attack. 

On  the  10th  news  was  heliographed  from  Lady- 
smith  of  two  successful  sorties  made  by  the  garrison 
to  destroy  the  enemy's  artillery.  The  first  assault 
took  place  on  the  night  of  the  7th.  To  preclude 
espionage,  orders  were  only  issued  after  "Lights 
out!"  had  sounded  and  the  garrison  retired.  Two 
squadrons  each  of  the  Light-horse,  Natal  Carbineers, 
and  Mounted  Rifles,  and  sections  of  the  diminished 
gunners  of  the  10th  Mountain  Battery  and  Royal 
Engineers  were  selected.  Under  General  Hunter, 
with  Major  Henderson  and  twelve  guides  of  the 
Intelligence  Department,  this  force  moved  out  at 
11  P.M.  against  the  Boer  lines  at  Lombard's  Kop, 
seven  miles  distant.  They  passed  between  the  Boer 
outposts  successfully,  and  reached  the  foot  of  Gun 
Hill  without  discovery.  A  squadron  of  the  Rifles 
under  Rethman  covered  the  left  flank,  a  squadron 
each  of  the  three  forces  held  the  right,  under  Colonel 
Royston,  to  guard  against  advance  from  the  main 
laager  at  Bulwhana.  One  hundred  each  Carbineers 
under  Major  Addison,  and  Light  Horse  under  Major 
14  209 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Edwards  then  crawled  up  the  position  on  their  hands 
and  knees,  with  General  Hunter  and  the  guides. 

"  Wie  horn  daar  ?  " 

The  British  halted  for  a  moment,  then  crawled 
silently  on,  seizing  the  sentry  as  he  peered  into  the 
darkness.  He  sobbingly  begged  for  his  life,  and  was 
led  up  with  the  troops.  But  his  first  challenge  had 
awakened  his  sleeping  companions  and  a  voice  cried, 
"Piet!  Where  art  thou?'' 

The  cold  muzzle  of  a  carbine  pressed  behind  his 
ear  secured  the  silence  of  the  trembling  Piet.  The 
guard,  blaspheming  after  the  religious  spirit  of  the 
Boer,  clambered  down  to  find  Piet,  passing  over 
the  silent  line  before  they  discovered  the  enemy. 
Greatly  bewildered  they  then  raced  down  the  steep 
hillside  screaming,  "The  rooineks!  the  verdomde 
rooineks !  "  arousing  their  comrades  on  the  hill.  The 
British  scrambled  on  breathlessly,  and  the  thoroughly 
alarmed  commando  turned  out  to  find  the  enemy 
upon  th6m.  They  fired  rapid  volleys,  to  which  the 
colonials  replied,  and  checked  the  advance  for  a 
moment.  Though  the  volunteers  carried  carbines 
only,  General  Hunter,  who  was  leading  them,  played 
on  the  enemy's  horror  of  cold  steel  by  the  stentorian 
order,  "  Fix  bayonets !  Charge !  "  The  line  swept  up 
with  a  cheer,  the  Boers  flying  precipitately  to  avoid 
the  supposed  "long  knives." 

Only  Major  Henderson  and  Godson,  a  guide,  had 
been  wounded,  but  the  major  was  the  first  to  locate 

210 


First  Part  of  Enterprise  Successful 

the  famous  "Long  Tom,"  and  the  engineers  were 
speedily  at  work.  In  these  days  of  removable  vents, 
"spiking  the  guns"  is  but  a  figment  of  the  cheap 
romancer,  and  the  glories  effected  by  a  tenpenny-nail 
belong  to  a  past  decade.  Lieutenant  Turner  and  two 
assistants,  of  the  Royal  Engineers,  quickly  removed 
the  breech-block.  "Long  Tom  "  was  plugged,  and  a 
charge  of  gun  cotton  placed  in  and  around  muzzle 
and  breech.  A  4. 7 -inch  howitzer  was  simultane- 
ously treated  by  Captain  Faulk.  The  troops  with- 
drew to  a  safe  distance.  Turner  placed  his  cigar 
against  the  fuses,  and  three  explosions  announced  to 
anxious  Ladysmith  that  the  first  part  of  the  enter- 
prise was  successful.  The  breech-fitting  of  the  mas- 
sive 40 -pounder  was  torn  out,  the  bore  scored,  the 
muzzle  split,  and  the  gun  rendered  useless.  The 
Sappers  completed  the  wreck  with  sledge-hammers, 
smashing  the  sights,  recoil  buffer,  and  elevating  gear, 
removing  the  breech-block  as  a  trophy.  The  howitzer 
was  irretrievably  ruined. 

The  enemy  had  advanced  from  Bulwhana,  and 
poured  in  a  few  volleys,  killing  two  and  wounding 
four;  but  after  the  explosions  they  rapidly  retired, 
and  the  victorious  force  descended  the  hill  and  re- 
turned to  camp  unmolested.  As  they  left  the  hill- 
top, a  trooper  fell  over  a  Maxim  in  the  darkness. 
This  was  quickly  secured,  and  on  the  following  day 
it  poured  in  bullets  on  its  late  owners. 

General    White,    disregarding    the   moral   of    the 
211 


In  South  Africa  with  Duller 

pitcher  and  the  well,  arranged  a  second  sortie  two 
nights  later  to  destroy  an  annoying  4.7-inch  howitzer 
on  Surprise  Hill,  only  three  miles  from  camp.  Colonel 
Metcalf  with  five  hundred  men  of  the  Rifle  Brigade 
followed  Hunter's  tactics,  and  two  companies  of 
stormers  reached  the  hilltop  unobserved.  The  Boers, 
however,  were  bivouacked  in  force  close  behind  the 
gunpit,  and  though  they  were  surprised  and  retreated 
hurriedly,  they  sustained  a  heavy  fire  from  a  further 
position. 

Lieutenant  Jones  coolly  placed  charges  round  the 
howitzer  under  a  spatter  of  bullets,  and  lit  the  fuse. 
It  failed  to  explode,  and  other  commandoes  closed 
in,  but  the  Rifles  held  their  ground  steadily  while 
another  charge  was  prepared  and  ignited,  this  time 
successfully  demolishing  the  piece.  The  hill  was  now 
completely  surrounded  by  Boers,  and  the  protecting 
flanks  were  heavily  engaged,  but  the  Rifles  charged 
with  fixed  bayonets  and  went  through  the  enemy 
with  a  cheer,  suffering  considerable  loss,  however. 
An  outlying  picket,  under  the  son  of  State  Secretary 
Reitz,  had  taken  refuge  in  the  rocks  close  to  the 
valley  where  the  troops  were  re-forming.  They 
inflicted  further  loss,  killing  Captain  Baton  and  sev- 
eral men  outright,  but  the  British  were  soon  clear, 
and  leaving  twenty  men,  without  arms,  to  look  after 
the  wounded,  they  returned  to  camp.  The  storming 
party,  two  hundred  strong,  lost  fifty-nine  men  dur- 
ing the  operation. 

212 


Prisoners  Sent  to  Pretoria 

At  daybreak  the  incensed  Boers  found  the  de- 
tached party  searching  for  wounded.  Despite  their 
object,  they  were  made  prisoners  and  sent  to  Pre- 
toria, the  wounded  being  left  where  they  fell.  The 
ambulance  despatched  from  Ladysmith  was  also 
seized,  and  the  surgeon  and  bearer  company  arrested. 
Several  Boer  officers  had  been  severely  disciplined  for 
their  failure  to  repel  the  first  sortie,  and  the  burghers 
were  in  a  tearing  rage  at  the  second  loss  of  artillery 
through  their  dilatoriness.  Several  threatened  to 
shoot  the  wounded  in  reprisal,  and  some  of  the  Red 
Cross  men  were  roughly  handled,  but  Schalk  Burger, 
who  was  in  command,  finally  allowed  them  to  depart. 

While  the  pinch  of  the  siege  was  only  beginning 
to  be  felt,  the  garrison  welcomed  the  news  that  the 
relief  column  was  mobilized  and  ready  to  strike. 
Failure  was  not  thought  of. 


213 


CHAPTER  VIII 

Repulses  of  Gatacre  and  Methuen.  —  The  Battle  of 
CoLENSO.  —  Withdrawal  of  Buller.  —  Loss  of  Long's 
Artillery  Division.  —  V.  C.'s  on  the  Field. 

Reverses  to  his  central  and  western  columns 
hurried  General  Buller  to  make  a  decisive  stroke  with 
the  Natal  Field  Force.  General  Gatacre,  known  in 
the  army  as  "  Backacher  "  from  the  feats  of  endurance 
that  he  has  accomplished  with  his  forces,  and  with  a 
high  reputation  from  the  Soudan,  marched  his  column 
against  the  Boer  position  at  Stormberg,  intending  to 
surprise  the  laagers  in  the  darkness  and  reconquer  the 
annexed  district  of  Cape  Colony.  Such  a  surprise 
would  be  possible  in  the  Soudan,  but  the  risks  of 
night  operations  in  South  Africa  are  stupendous,  not 
tha  least  of  which  are  caused  by  the  falsity  of  compass 
bearings  among  the  ferruginous  rocks.  Sir  William 
Gatacre  had  only  two  thousand  available  men  in  his 
command,  but  as  Boer  aggression  was  terrorizing  the 
entire  north  of  the  colony,  the  railway  junction  was 
in  their  hands,  and  disloyalty  was  spreading  to  the 
coast  itself,  heroic  measures  seemed  justified. 

With  a  reliable  guide,  Sergeant  Morgan  of  the 
local  police,  the  column  moved   out  from   Putter's 

214: 


Column  Retired  on  Molteno 

Kraal  at  4  a.m.  December  9,  and  by  road  and  rail 
swooped  down  on  Molteno,  which  was  hovering  be- 
tween British  and  rebel  control.  Rapidly  mobilizing 
in  the  town,  the  force  pressed  forward  after  sunset 
along  the  left  road  to  Steynsburg,  intending  to  turn 
off  at  right  angles  to  take  the  Boer  position  in  flank. 

Unfortunately,  the  guide,  missing  the  turning,  led 
the  troops  sixteen  miles  instead  of  nine.  Faulty 
bearings  finally  placed  the  force  on  a  further  turning 
from  the  main  road,  which  ran  directly  parallel  to  the 
reverse  of  the  Boer  position.  Day  was  just  break- 
ing, the  general  was  urging  on  his  worn-out  men, 
expecting  every  minute  to  find  the  left  of  the  position 
looming  up  on  his  direct  front,  when  a  sudden  and 
furious  fire  burst  at  close  range  along  the  entire 
length  of  his  column.  After  a  moment  of  confusion 
the  leading  companies  took  a  sharp  right  turn,  and 
dashed  up  the  enfilading  ridge.  But  perpendicular 
rock  surmounted  by  loopholed  stone  walls  checked 
their  onslaught,  and  the  line  was  hurled  back  to  the 
road  as  the  British  bugles  sounded  "  Retire ! " 

Shot  at  every  foot  of  the  way,  worn-out  by  twenty- 
four  hours'  continuous  exertion,  the  column  slowly 
extricated  itself,  fighting  as  it  retired  on  Molteno, 
harassed  by  bullet  and  shell  into  the  very  outskirts 
of  the  city.  When  roll  was  called  six  hundred  men 
out  of  the  small  column  failed  to  answer  their  names 
—  killed,  wounded,  or  prisoners. 

Under  ordinary  conditions  the  forced  assault  on 
215 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

the  reverse  of  the  position  would  have  been  success- 
ful. But  the  long,  rocky  ridge,  at  the  base  of  which 
ran  the  road,  had  been  carefully  and  scientifically 
intrenched  on  the  north  side  by  the  colonials,  to 
repel  invasion  during  the  early  days  of  the  war. 
Before  troops  could  be  sent  up  to  occupy  the  junc- 
tion the  Boers  had  swept  over  the  border  and  seized 
the  ridge,  intrenching  on  the  south  side  to  stay  a 
British  advance.  They  had  discovered  the  column, 
moving  down  as  they  supposed  to  assail  their  rear, 
and  they  had  hardly  taken  up  a  position  in  the 
British  trenches  when  the  troops  marched  along 
their  line  in  quarter-column.  It  is  little  credit  to 
the  Boers  that  Gatacre  was  not  overwhelmed.  Far 
superior  in  number,  they  had  the  column  in  a  trap 
which  simple  tactics  could  have  closed.  But  the 
Boer  dislike  to  open  fighting,  even  when  great  things 
might  be  accomplished  thereby,  enabled  the  British 
general  to  execute  his  masterful  retirement  with 
three-fourths  of  his  force. 

General  French,  at  Naaupoort  Junction,  gained 
rapid  if  small  successes  and  held  the  railroad  intact 
at  that  point,  repeatedly  outflanking  the  Boers  with 
his  cavalry  and  horse  artillery,  more  mobile  than  the 
enemy. 

On  the  western  border  Lord  Methuen,  after  fight- 
ing severe  but  successful  actions  at  Belmont,  Graspan, 
and  Modder  River,  hurling  the  Boers  back  at  each 
step,  moved  against  their  main  position  at  Magersf on- 

216 


Bombardment  at  Magersfontein 

tein  on  December  11th.  The  Boers  had  been  located 
along  a  line  of  steep  kopjes,  strongly  intrenched. 
But  the  advance,  which  had  appeared  clear  on  the 
previous  day  to  the  scouts,  who  were  unable  to  inspect 
closely  through  strong  Boer  outposts,  was  intersected 
by  a  long,  cunningly  concealed  trench  running  along 
the  base  of  the  kopjes,  and  strongly  defended  by  an 
impenetrable  tangle  of  barbed  wire.^ 

For  two  days  a  terrific  bombardment  had  been  sus- 
tained against  the  Boer  position,  and  the  column 
advanced  confidently  at  midnight,  expecting  to  sur- 
prise and  overcome  a  demoralized  enemy  intrenched 
as  of  yore  along  the  ridges.  The  Highland  brigade 
was  in  the  van,  the  men  marching  in  quarter-column 
to  sustain  touch  and  direction  in  the  darkness,  the 
order  being  to  extend  along  the  base  of  the  positions 
at  dawn,  after  crossing  the  open  without  loss,  and 
then  press  the  attack. 

By  3.45  A.M.  General  Wauchope  had  led  his  men 
almost  to  the  base  of  the  kopjes,  the  Boer  outposts 
were  captured,  sleeping  quietly,  and  the  men  had 
even  loaded  without  discovery.  Then  a  rifle  was 
discharged  accidentally,  there  was  a  hoarse  challenge 
from  the  long  trench,  awaking  the  Boers,  who  sprang 

1  The  successful  employment  of  barbed  wire  in  Cuba  led  the 
Transvaal  government  to  call  for  tenders  early  in  1899  for  950 
miles  of  the  fencing.  Two  weeks  later  one  Pretorian  firm  placed 
an  order  with  an  American  company  for  1500  tons,  and  further 
shipments  have  taken  place  ;  eo  that  an  ample  supply  was  on  hand 
for  purposes  of  defence. 

217 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

to  their  arms  and  opened  wild  volleys  into  the  dark- 
ness. 

Individual  soldiers  fired  back,  their  flashes  re- 
vealing the  brigade,  caught  in  massed  formation  but 
one  hundred  and  sixty  yards  from  the  rifles.  Men 
fell  in  heaps,  but  Wauchope  rallied  and  hastily  ex- 
tended his  regiments,  and  then  ordered  a  charge.  In 
the  face  of  terrific  volleys,  the  Highlanders  swept 
into  the  wire  defences,  and  though  ofiicers  and  men 
strove  to  break  down  the  obstruction,  mesh  succeeded 
mesh,  and  the  attacking  line  melted  away  before  the 
point-blank  fire,  the  supports  falling  back.  Wauchope 
fell  riddled  with  bullets  at  the  head  of  his  men. 

The  supports  rallied,  reinforcements  moved  up, 
and,  checked  but  undismayed,  the  British  formed  on 
the  open  veldt  and  lay  pouring  ineffectual  volleys 
at  the  sheltered  enemy  from  sunrise  to  sundown,  ex- 
posed to  a  pitiless  fire  in  return.  At  midday  the 
Boer  fire  slackened,  and  again  the  Highlanders  sprang 
up  and  dashed  forward  with  the  bayonet.  Again  the 
barbed  wire  checked  them,  the  leading  lines  were 
swept  away,  and  the  remnant  were  driven  back  in 
dire  confusion,  their  rout  being  covered  magnificently 
by  the  guards.  For  the  third  time  the  survivors 
were  rallied,  the  Gordons  in  the  van,  and  pressed 
forward  with  short  rushes.  Backed  by  the  Scots 
Guards  the  shattered  brigade  again  drew  close, 
ordered  to  hold  on  until  sunset  and  then  charge. 

With  the  typical  disregard  either  of  Free  State  or 
218 


Attack  on  the  Open  Veldt 

foreign  allies,  Cronje  sent  the  Scandinavian  contin- 
gent under  Baron  Faderscold  to  attempt  a  flanking 
movement  on  the  open  veldt.  The  contingent  was 
wiped  out,  the  survivors  dragging  their  wounded  to 
the  British  lines,  declaring  that  they  would  fight  for 
the  Boers  no  longer.  Cronje's  line  was  wavering 
under  the  incessant  shelling,  and  the  burghers  admit 
that  the  final  charge  would  have  succeeded.  But 
Albrecht  brought  several  guns  into  action  at  the  close 
of  the  day  and  swept  the  utterly  exhausted  companies. 
Flesh  and  blood  could  endure  no  longer.  Without 
food  or  water,  under  a  terrible  fire,  their  arms,  legs, 
and  backs  covered  with  vesicles  from  the  blazing  sun, 
the  troops  were  unable  to  make  further  effort,  but  lay 
where  they  had  fought,  far  into  the  night,  and  then 
crawled  back  out  of  range.  Reluctantly  Methuen 
was  forced  to  withdraw  his  command  to  the  Modder 
River. 

At  Tel-el-Kebir  Wolseley  pursued  similar  tactics 
with  success,  and  the  world  hails  him  as  a  hero. 
Methuen  failed,  and  has  to  face  wholesale  execration. 
The  street  tactician  blames  him  for  making  a  frontal 
attack,  but  overlooks  details  of  transportation  which 
held  him  to  the  railroad  line,  a  detour  being  impossi- 
ble save  with  a  much  stronger  force,  with  abundant 
transport.  Weakened  by  successive  battles,  his  two 
brigades  could  hope  to  accomplish  nothing  save  by 
surprise.  Had  he  d^toured,  he  must  have  taken  all 
his  force  and  left  a  long  line  of  communications  ex- 

219 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

posed.  He  could  expect  no  reinforcements,  and  the 
fault  lies  rather  with  those  who  underestimated  the 
enemy  and  gave  him  an  impossible  task.  Remem- 
ber what  Law  ton's  entire  division  suffered  at  Caney 
from  six  hundred  Spaniards  without  artillery,  and  you 
will  sympathize  with  Methuen's  two  brigades  opposed 
to  nine  thousand  steadfast  Boers  with  several  guns. 

And  those  who  hold  Lord  Paul  Methuen  as  a  proof 
of  the  effete  aristocracy  of  the  army  should  first  know 
their  man.  They  should  see  "  Saint  Paul "  Methuen, 
as  he  is  sometimes  called,  earnestly  conducting  his 
class  of  young  men  in  the  East  End  slums.  Would 
that  all  lords  were  like  him. 

There  is  as  little  favoritism  in  the  British  army  as 
in  the  United  States,  and  trained  officers  in  time  of 
war  do  not  find  themselves  superseded  by  political 
appointees  who  have  never  shouldered  a  rifle,  —  a  dis- 
tinct hardship  during  the  late  unpleasantness  with 
Spain.  The  social  butterflies  who  adopt  the  army  for 
a  profession  have  to  pass  an  examination  as  rigorous 
as  in  any  country  in  the  world.  There  is  much  snob- 
bery in  certain  regiments;  Mr.  Winston  Churchill, 
who  has  now  completely  vindicated  his  manliness, 
sustained  a  caste  in  the  4th  Hussars,  which  in- 
curred the  contempt  of  all  thinking  officers,  and 
thinking  men,  too,  if  they  heard  of  it. 

But  fortunately  for  the  army,  a  more  democratic 
spirit  generally  prevails,  and  while  it  is  absolutely 
necessary  for  a  subaltern  to  have  private  means  to 

220 


No  Favoritism  in  British  Army 

augment  his  pay,^  Of  Ours  is  all  the  social  status 
needed  to  win  popularity.  A  manly,  well  bred  man 
can  become  a  power  in  a  regiment  where  a  titled 
"  dolt "  will  be  the  laughing-stock.  The  democracy 
of  Rugby,  Eton,  or  Harrow  is  carried  through  Sand- 
hurst into  the  army.  As  a  certain  prince  had  to  fag 
for  young  Astor,  so  the  Queen's  grandson  in  the 
Rifles,  not  long  since,  was  subservient  to  the  son 
of  a  wholesale  draper,  who  boasted  three  months' 
seniority.  What  other  army  can  show  the  fearless, 
clear-cut,  intelligent  type  of  men  who  officer  the 
United  States  and  British  armies? 

Carlyle  wrote  of  the  "  usual  manner  "  of  British  offi- 
cers, "without  knowledge  of  war  or  fear  of  death." 
But  he  spoke  of  the  days  of  purchase.  British  officers 
may  have  known  little  of  modern  warfare,  for  field 
days  make  soldiers,  but  not  generals.  But  for  a 
ridiculous  inattention  to  the  lessons  of  the  Spanish 
war,  belittled  by  Toral's  abject  surrender.  South  Afri- 
can leaders  might  have  made  their  initial  plans  differ- 
ently.    Their  experience  was   costly,  but  useful  to 

1  The  Vice-Chancellor  of  Cambridge  University  recently  invited 
applications  for  commissions,  and  pointed  out  that  candidates 
must  have  sufficient  means  to  support  the  same.  That  such  condi- 
tions should  debar  suitable  men  from  appointments  in  the  hour  of 
need  shows  the  necessity  for  drastic  change.  Few  can  exist  on  the 
present  pay  of  subalterns,  and  a  poor  man  is  forced  to  waste  his 
energy  in  West  Africa  or  on  the  frontier  in  native  corps,  because 
he  cannot  sustain  his  position  in  a  line  regiment.  It  is  specially 
hard  for  the  sons  of  officers.  Born  and  reared  in  the  army  they 
are  soldiers  by  instinct,  but  their  fathers  have  seldom  the  means  to 
place  them  in  the  service. 

221 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

the  military  world.  The  common  assertion,  how- 
ever, that  leaders  are  chosen  by  social  preferment, 
more  competent  officers  being  superseded  through 
favoritism,  is  directly  negatived  by  the  present  lead- 
ers. Wolseley,  Roberts,  Buller,  Kitchener,  Clery, 
French,  and  many  others  have  won  their  rank  and 
honors  by  sheer  hard  service  in  the  army,  which  they 
entered  as  unknown  subs.  It  is  unfortunate  that 
there  are  not  more  Hector  Macdonalds,  but  when 
"  Bobs  "  is  commander-in-chief  direct  promotion  from 
the  ranks  will  be  easier.  To-day  field-marshals' 
batons  can  hardly  be  said  to  lie  in  every  private's 
knapsack.  ' 

The  mobilization  of  the  Ladysmith  relieving  column 
was  completed  by  General  Clery  on  December  11th, 
when  General  Buller  reviewed  the  command,  num- 
bering 22,000  fighting  men. 

The  column  comprised:  the  Cavalry  Brigade,  the 
Earl  of  Dundonald,  1st  Dragoons,  13th  Hussars, 
Bethune's  and  Thorneycroft's  Horse,  three  squadrons 
of  the  newly  enrolled  South  African  Light  horse, 
Walter's  composite  corps  of  regular  Mounted  Infan- 
try, and  the  detached  companies  of  the  Natal  Carbineers 
and  Imperial  Light-horse,  2,700  mounted  men.  The 
infantry  brigades  were:  the  2d  Brigade  (English), 
General  Hildyard's,  the  Devon,  West  York,  West  and 
East  Surrey  regiments,  4th  Brigade  (Light  Infantry), 
General  Lyttleton,  1st  Rifle  Brigade,  3d   Battalion 

222 


Ladysmith  Relieving  Column 

60th  Rifles,  Scottish  Rifles,  and  the  Durham  Light 
Infantry,  5th  Brigade  (Irish),  General  Hart,  Dublin 
and  Inniskilling  Fusiliers  and  Connaught  Rangers,  and 
the  Border  regiment  which  replaced  the  Royal  Irish 
detached  to  General  Gatacre,  6th  Brigade  (Union), 
General  Barton,  2d  Royal  Fusiliers,  2d  Royal  Scots, 
2d  Royal  Irish,  and  1st  Royal  Welsh  Fusiliers.  With 
the  above  force  were  the  Tth,  14th,  63d,  64th  and 
66th  field  batteries  R.  A.,  two  naval  4.7  guns 
(Lyddite),  and  six  long-range  12-pounders  under 
Captain  Jones  of  the  "Forte,"  and  six  naval  12- 
pounders  under  Lieutenant  Ogilvy. 

Barton's  composite  brigade  made  the  first  advance, 
honors  being  even  for  each  country  represented 
therein.  Beside  the  union  of  England,  Scotland, 
Ireland,  and  Wales,  the  territorial  system  has  not 
restricted  the  regiments  in  question,  and  it  is  safe  to 
say  that  every  county  of  the  countries  had  its  quota 
there.  On  December  12th  the  brigade  escorted  six 
naval  guns  to  a  kopje  east  of  the  railroad,  dominating 
at  7,000  yards  the  intrenched  ridges  that  menaced 
the  wagon  bridge  crossing  the  Tugela.  A  heavy 
bombardment  of  the  Boer  position  was  sustained  from 
7  A.M  to  1  P.M.  on  the  following  day,  the  Lyddite 
shells  blowing  great  gaps  in  the  opposite  intrench- 
ments.  The  enemy  made  no  reply,  and  current 
rumor  had  it  that  they  had  become  demoralized  by 
the  fire  and  had  withdrawn. 

On  the  14th  a  general  advance  was  ordered  ;  camp 
223 


In  South  Africa  with  Duller 

was  struck  and  moved  forward  to  a  position  beyond 
Chieveley,  preparatory  for  an  attack  in  force  on  the 
morrow.  The  naval  guns  advanced  nearer  the  river 
and  again  pounded  the  enemy's  position;  but  again 
the  masked  Boer  guns  were  silent,  and  mounted 
patrols  who  ventured  close  to  the  river  were  not  fired 
upon.  When  general  orders  were  read  that  evening 
for  the  attack  at  daybreak,  no  one  expected  a  severe 
fight,  and  most  decided  that  the  effective  fire  of  the 
naval  guns  had  taught  the  farmer  foe  a  salutary 
lesson,  and  the  general  supposition  was  that  the  enemy 
had  removed  his  cannon  out  of  range,  and  would  make 
little  opposition.  Strangely,  the  Natalian  forces,  who 
had  lived  with  the  Boers  from  childhood,  were  loudest 
in  belittling  the  resolution  of  the  enemy.  But  a  few 
sagely  shook  their  heads  and  talked  of  Dutch  slim. 

The  Tugela  (Startling)  Riv«r  rises  on  the  Free  State 
side  of  the  Mont  aux  Sources  in  the  Drakensberg  and 
leaps  into  British  territory  in  a  sheer  descent  of  1, 800 
feet,  the  highest  waterfall  in  the  world.  The  river 
usually  flows  quietly  through  the  picturesque  scenery 
of  Natal,  but  the  melting  of  the  snow  on  the  berg,  or 
a  heavy  and  perhaps  entirely  local  rain-storm,  swells 
it  into  a  turbid  flood  that  sweeps  down  without  warn- 
ing, and  woe  betide  the  hapless  traveller  caught  pass- 
ing a  drift.  Its  tributaries  are  numerous.  On  the 
north  it  is  fed  by  the  Klip  River  from  Ladysmith  and 
the  Sunday  River  from  Elandslaagte.     Its  first  trib- 

224 


The  Tugela  River 

Titary,  the  Little  Tugela,  flows  in  on  the  south  bank 
from  Springfield;  the  Blauwkrantz  (Blue  Cliff)  joins 
it  from  Frere,  the  Bushman  River  from  Eastcourt,  and 
Mooi  (good)  from  Weston. 

Its  largest  tributary  is  the  Buffalo  River,  which 
rises  near  Charleston  and  forms,  first,  the  eastern 
boundary  between  Natal  and  the  Transvaal,  and  in 
crude  right  angle  with  the  Tugela  marks  the  west 
and  south  border  of  Zululand.  The  Buffalo  is  joined 
by  the  historic  Ingogo  between  Majuba  and  New 
Castle,  and  its  course  is  marked  by  points  of  special 
interest,  notably  Rorke's  Drift,  Fort  Northampton, 
and  Fugitive  Drift  where  the  heroic  Melville  fell, 
the  last  of  his  ill-fated  corps,  with  his  regiment's 
colors  wrapped  around  him.  A  monument  marks  the 
place  of  his  death. 

Like  all  South  African  rivers,  with  the  short  ex- 
ception of  the  Umzimkulu,  the  Tugela  is  not  navi* 
gable,  and  in  the  dry  season  its  tributaries  are 
miserable  spruits.  But  for  this  it  would  prove  a  mag- 
nificent water  way  through  the  richest  districts  of 
Natal,  with  branches  connecting  the  important  towns 
in  the  colony.  A  Brobdingnagian  feat  of  engineer- 
ing can  transform  this  water  system  with  a  series  of 
locks  and  embankments ;  and  if  the  future  promise  of 
Natal  is  fulfilled,  a  great  South  African  canal  may  be 
projected  along  the  Tugela  and  its  branches. 

The  railroad  crosses  the  river  by  a  massive  bridge 
at  Colenso,  where  the  Bulwer  road  runs  north ;  and 
15  225 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

a  wagon  bridge  and  drift  also  cross  at  this  point. 
The  Boers  had  taken  up  a  strong  position  on  the 
north  side  of  the  crossing,  where  the  advance  of  relief 
for  Ladysmith,  following  the  railroad  from  the  coast, 
must  cross  the  river.  Meyer's  defeat  at  Talana  led 
to  the  selection  of  Louis  Botha,  his  junior  assistant 
during  the  establishment  of  Vryheid,  and  a  very 
young  member  of  the  older  Boer  party,  as  direct 
commander  under  Joubert  to  oppose  the  British  ad- 
vance. Disappointed  at  their  failure  to  surprise  Mar- 
itzburg,  and  disheartened  by  the  rapid  advance  of 
Red  Bull  (Redvers  Buller),  whom  a  few  had  fought 
under  in  the  Zulu  war,  but  most  supposed  to  be  a 
brother  of  John  Bull,  the  burghers,  notably  the  Free 
Staters,  were  anxious  to  fall  back  to  defend  their 
own  territory.  They  had  been  told  that  40,000  men 
were  the  utmost  force  that  England  could  gather  for 
a  foreign  war.  They  had  shut  a  fourth  of  this  army 
in  Ladysmith ;  here  was  one  half  coming  to  its  relief, 
and  yet  each  day  they  heard  of  50,000  men  marching 
up  to  relieve  Kimberley  and  invade  the  republics. 

But  the  quiet  wisdom  of  their  young  general  soon 
restored  their  confidence  and  they  loyally  assisted 
him  in  carrying  out  his  plans.  With  amazing  per- 
spicuity this  simple  strategist,  heedless  of  the  advice 
of  skilled  European  officers,  argued  out  the  position 
and  acted  accordingly.  The  topography  of  Natal 
must  be  studied  to  be  appreciated.  It  is  an  ideal 
country  for  defence ;  it  is  the  most  difficult  country 

226 


Boers  Destroy  Colenso  Bridge 

in  the  world  for  aggressive  campaigning.  Sustain- 
ing a  strategical  offensive  with  a  tactical  defensive, 
the  Boers  had  every  advantage  on  their  side.  But  the 
consummate  skill  evinced  by  Botha  in  realizing  and 
applying  this  advantage,  with  a  prescience  of  British 
movements  gained  only  by  a  logical  deduction  of  the 
possibilities,  probabilities,  disabilities,  and  precedents 
of  the  force  before  him,  caused  him  to  anticipate  and 
meet  every  manoeuvre  to  cross  the  river. 

The  Boers  destroyed  the  massive  railroad  bridge  at 
Colenso,  but  left  the  road  bridge  intact,  occasionally 
sending  patrols  over  as  if  they  had  retained  it  for 
their  own  use,  and  afterwards  occupying  the  houses 
on  the  right  bank  to  lure  on  the  force.  On  their  side 
of  the  river,  Fort  Wylie,  evacuated  by  the  British 
early  in  November,  dominated  the  bridges.  It  was 
greatly  strengthened  by  earthworks.  The  drifts  or 
fords  over  the  Tugela,  marked  on  the  field  map,  were 
cunningly  altered  by  throwing  dams  across  at  night, 
rocks  abounding  for  this  purpose.  Rows  and  rows 
of  trenches  were  erected  before  these  drifts,  the 
defences  being  masked  by  brush  and  the  natural  rocks 
of  the  kopjes. 

From  the  left  or  Boer  bank  of  the  river  successive 
kopjes  rise  in  tiers,  extending  along  the  entire  front 
and  ranging  backward  toward  the  north  in  irregular 
groups  to  lofty  eminences,  Grobler's  Kloof  and  Red 
Hill,  which  formed  the  centre  of  the  Boer  position, 
commanding  the  entire  sloping  plain  on  the  line  of 

227 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

advance.  On  these  heights  they  mounted  their  big 
guns.  The  Tugela  near  Colenso  makes  a  sharp  bend 
northward,  winding  between  the  line  of  kopjes  and 
hills  running  east  and  west.  With  Fort  Wylie  to 
hold  the  approaches  to  the  bridges,  Botha  threw  up 
lines  of  trenches  extending  along  the  entire  water 
front,  at  the  base  of  the  kopjes  and  around  the  irreg- 
ular sides.  The  left  of  his  line,  stretching  across  the 
river  where  it  flows  north,  rested  on  Mount  Hlang- 
wane  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Tugela.  Learning  a 
lesson  from  Santiago,  he  planted  his  position  with 
rows  of  barbed  wire  entanglements.  The  river  bed 
and  the  long  grass  and  brush  extending  up  the  open 
bank  of  the  Tugela  on  the  British  side  were  plenti- 
fully strewn  with  barbed  wire  fences,  torn  bodily  from 
surrounding  farms  and  distributed  in  layers  in  the 
shallows  and  along  the  ground  likely  to  be  traversed 
hy  troops  assailing  the  drifts. 

The  ground  leading  to  Colenso  from  Chieveley  is 
very  open  and  traversed  by  dongas.  The  veldt  slopes 
gently  down  to  the  immediate  river  bank,  which  is 
steep  and  covered  with  long  coarse  grass  and  scrub. 
You  will  thus  see  that  a  force  advancing  from  Chieve- 
ley toward  Ladysmith  must  cross  the  open  in  face 
of  a  terrific  rifle  and  artillery  fire  from  well  screened 
positions.  Still  exposed,  the  advance  across  the  river 
would  be  retarded  by  barbed  wire  and  the  artificial 
flood  of  the  drifts,  and  if  a  command  could  live  to 
force   a  passage,  row  after  row  of  kopjes   must  be 

228 


Colenso's  Impregnable  Position 

stormed  in  succession  on  the  opposite  bank ;  the  direct 
opposition  supported  by  the  heavy  guns  and  reserve 
riflemen  on  the  eminences  in  the  rear. 

In  these  days  of  modern  warfare,  the  impregnable 
position  certainly  seems  to  exist,  and  with  resolution 
a  handful  of  men  at  Colenso  could  stay  the  advance 
of  an  army  corps.  Imagine  two  miles  of  successive 
positions  like  San  Juan  in  Cuba,  but  seven  times 
longer,  covered  with  rocks,  steeper,  and  a  hundred- 
fold more  difficult  to  assail.  Throw  in  front  of  them 
a  broad,  unfordable  river,  with  an  open,  unprotected 
advance  in  place  of  the  El  Poso  woods  that  covered 
the  advance  to  within  600  yards  of  the  Spanish 
blockhouses.  Place  in  the  position  a  foe  a  hundred 
times  more  resolute  and  thirty  times  more  numerous 
than  Toral's  advanced  forces  in  Cuba.  Advance 
your  column,  but  one  brigade  larger  than  Shafter's 
army,  across  the  open,  force  a  passage  over  the  river 
under  the  belching  of  15,000  rifles,  tear  your  way 
through  the  entanglements  on  the  banks,  carry  these 
twenty  San  Juan's  in  succession  while  the  command- 
ing eminences  in  rear  sustain  a  terrific  fire  on  your 
advancing  forces,  storm  those  final  heights,  capture 
the  enemy's  guns,  and  you  have  won  the  battle  of 
Colenso. 

The  wonder  is  not  so  much  that  the  British  failed, 
but  that  they  accomplished  so  much  without  a  greater 
loss.  Before  you  attempt  to  criticise  Buller,  study  a 
map  of  Natal  and  read  Bloch. 

229 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

On  the  night  of  December  14th  the  following  gen- 
eral orders  were  issued : — 


Orders  BY  Lieutenant  General  Sir  F.  Clery,  K.C.B., 
Commanding  South  Natal  Field  Foece. 

Chieveley,  Dec.  14,  1899  (10  p.  m.). 

1.  The  enemy  is  intrenched  in  the  kopjes  north  of 
Colenso  Bridge.  One  large  camp  is  reported  to  he  near 
the  Ladysmith  road,  about  five  miles  northwest  of  Co- 
lenso. Another  large  camp  is  reported  in  the  hills  which 
lie  north  of  the  Tugela  in  a  northerly  direction  from 
Hlangwane  Hill. 

2.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  General  Officer  Command- 
ing to  force  the  passage  of  the  Tugela  to-morrow. 

3.  The  5th  Brigade  will  move  from  its  present  camp- 
ing-ground at  4.30  a.m.  and  march  towards  the  Bridle 
Drift,  immediately  west  of  the  junction  of  Dornkop  Spruit 
and  the  Tugela.  The  Brigade  will  cross  at  this  point, 
and  after  crossing  move  along  the  left  bank  of  the  river 
towards  the  kopjes  north  of  the  iron  bridge. 

4.  The  2d  Brigade  will  move  from  its  present  camp- 
ing-ground at  4  A.M.  and  passing  south  of  the  present 
camping-ground  of  No.  1  and  No.  2  Divisional  troops,  will 
march  in  the  direction  of  the  iron  bridge  at  Colenso.  The 
Brigade  will  cross  at  this  point  and  gain  possession  of 
the  kopjes  north  of  the  iron  bridge. 

5.  The  4th  Brigade  will  advance  at  4.30  a.m.  to  a  point 
between  Bridle  Drift  and  the  railway,  so  that  it  can  sup- 
port either  the  5th  or  the  2d  Brigade. 

6.  The  6th  Brigade  (less  a  half-battalion  escort  to  bag- 

230 


General  Orders 

gage)  will  move  at  4  A.  m.  east  of  the  railway  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Hlangwane  Hill  to  a  position  where  he  can  project 
the  right  flank  of  the  2d  Brigade,  and,  if  necessary,  sup- 
port it  or  the  mounted  troops  referred  to  later  as  moving 
towards  Hlangwane  Hill. 

7.  The  officer  commanding  mounted  brigade  will  move 
at  4  A.  M.,  with  a  force  of  1,000  men  and  one  battery  of 
No.  1  Brigade  Division,  in  the  direction  of  Hlangwane 
Hill;  he  will  cover  the  right  flank  of  the  general  move- 
ment, and  will  endeavour  to  take  up  a  position  on  Hlang- 
wane Hill,  whence  he  will  enfilade  the  kopjes  north  of  the 
iron  bridge. 

The  officer  commanding  mounted  troops  will  also  de- 
tail two  forces  of  300  and  500  men  to  cover  the  right  and 
left  flanks  respectively  and  protect  the  baggage. 

8.  The  2d  Brigade  Division,  Royal  Field  Artillery, 
will  move  at  4.30  a.  m.,  following  the  4th  Brigade,  and 
will  take  up  a  position  whence  it  can  enfilade  the  kopjes 
north  of  the  iron  bridge.  This  Brigade  Division  will  act 
on  any  orders  it  receives  from  Major-General  Hart. 

The  six  naval  guns  (two  4.7-inch  and  four  12-pounder) 
now  in  position  north  of  the  4th  Brigade,  will  advance 
on  the  right  of  the  2d  Brigade  Division,  Royal  Field 
Artillery. 

Ko.  1  Brigade  Division,  Royal  Field  Artillery  (less  one 
battery  detached  with  mounted  Brigade)  will  move  at 
3.30  A.  M.  east  of  the  railway  and  proceed  under  cover  of 
the  6th  Brigade  to  a  point  from  which  it  can  prepare  the 
crossing  for  the  2d  Brigade. 

The  six  naval  guns  now  encamped  with  No.  2  Divi- 
231 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

sional  Troops  will  accompany  and  act  with  this  Brigade 
Division. 

9.  As  soon  as  the  troops  mentioned  in  preceding  para- 
graphs have  moved  to  their  positions,  the  remaining  units 
and  the  baggage  will  be  parked  in  deep  formation,  facing 
north,  in  five  separate  lines,  in  rear  of  to-day's  artillery 
position,  the  right  of  each  line  resting  on  the  railway,  but 
leaving  a  space  of  100  yards  between  the  railway  and  the 
right  flank  of  the  line. 

In  1st  line  (counting  from  the  right) :  — 

Ammunition  Column  No.  1  Divisional  Troops;  6th 
Brigade  Field  Hospital;  4th  Brigade  Field  Hospital; 
Pontoon  Troop,  Royal  Engineers;  5th  Brigade  Field 
Hospital ;  2d  Brigade  Field  Hospital;  Ammunition 
Column,  No.  2  Divisional  Troops. 

In  2d  line  (counting  from  the  right) :  — 

Baggage  of  the  6th  Brigade ;  Baggage  of  the  4th  Bri- 
gade; Baggage  of  the  2d  Brigade. 

In  3d  line  (counting  from  the  right) :  — 

Baggage  of  Mounted  Brigade ;  Baggage  of  No.  1  Divi- 
sional Troops;  Baggage  of  No.  2  Divisional  Troops. 

In  4th  and  5th  lines  (counting  from  the  right) :  — 

Supply  Columns   in  the  same   order  as  the  baggage 
Columns  in  second  and  third  lines. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  I.  Beeves,    Royal   Irish   Fusiliers, 

will  command  the  whole  of  the  above  details. 

10.  The  position  of  the  General  Officer  Commanding 
will  be  near  the  4.7-inch  guns. 

The  Commanding  Royal  Engineer  will  send  two  sec- 
tions 17th  Company  Royal  Engineers  with  the  5th  Bri- 

232 


Force  Moved  Forward 

gade,    and   one   section    and    headquarters   with    the   2d 
Brigade. 

11.  Each  infantry  soldier  will  carry  150  rounds  on  his 
person,  the  ammunition  now  carried  in  the  ox-wagons  of 
regimental  transports  being  distributed.  Infantry  great- 
coats will  be  carried  in  two  ox-wagons  of  regimental  trans- 
port, if  brigadiers  so  wish ;  other  stores  will  not  be  placed 
in  these  wagons. 

12.  The  General  Of&cer  commanding  6th  Brigade  will 
detail  a  half-battalion  as  baggage  guard.  The  two  naval 
guns  now  in  position  immediately  south  of  divisional 
headquarter  camp  will  move  at  5  A.  m.  to  the  position  now 
occupied  by  the  4.7-in.  guns.  —  By  order 

B.  Hamilton,  Colonel^ 

Assistant  Adjutant- General 
South  Natal  Field  Force. 

At  3  A.M.  on  Friday,  Decemter  15th,  the  British 
camp  was  struck  and  the  entire  force  moved  forward. 
With  some  difficulty  the  two  4.7  naval  guns  were 
dragged  by  oxen  to  a  low  spur  west  of  the  rail- 
road, where  with  four  long-range  12-pounders  they 
came  into  action  under  Captain  Jones  of  the  "Forte," 
opening  steadily  with  the  early  dawn  at  4.45,  making 
Fort  Wylie  their  objective.  After  thirty  minutes' 
desultory  shelling,  which  failed  to  draw  the  enemy's 
guns,  that  they  might  be  located  and  silenced,  a 
furious  bombardment  was  opened  on  the  kopjes  pre- 
paratory for  the  attack. 

Outposts  and  scouts  advanced  toward  the  river,  but 
233 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

not  a  shot  was  fired.  A  few  burghers  galloped  madly 
across  the  bridge  and  away  as  Hildyard's  brigade 
moved  forward  in  open  order  beside  the  railroad. 
Skirmishers  fired  at  the  houses  on  the  south  side  of 
the  water,  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  enemy  on 
the  previous  day,  but  not  a  rifle  replied,  and  there 
was  not  a  sign  of  life  on  either  side  of  the  Tugela, 
save  on  the  far  kopjes  at  the  north  centre  of  the  posi- 
tion, where  a  group  of  mounted  burghers  were  appar- 
ently riding  away  for  dear  life. 

"Afraid  of  our  naval  guns!  They  have  moved 
their  own  heavy  pieces  out  of  action!"  was  the 
general  comment.  The  troops  stepped  forward  with 
an  eagerness  of  action  after  long  restraint,  and  the 
proud  smile  of  victory  assured.  No  one  supposed 
that  the  farmer  foe  would  be  mad  enough  to  place 
their  advance  across  the  river  which  would  cut  off 
their  retreat,  to  face  advancing  columns  that  must 
hurl  them  back  into  the  water.  Perhaps  such  tactics 
were  the  result  of  Boer  over-confidence,  but  over- 
confidence,  if  it  invites  disaster,  sometimes  achieves 
victory. 

Down  toward  the  Tugela  moved  the  brigades,  look- 
ing only  at  the  positions  across  the  water.  On  the 
right  centre  bombardiers  rode  right  to  the  river  bank 
crossing  empty  Boer  trenches  that  led  from  a  clump 
of  woods.  With  Captain  White-Thomson  they  found 
the  range  in  the  open  without  molestation,  and  re- 
ported the  ground  clear  of  the  enemy.     Colonel  Long, 

234 


"Halt!  Action  Front!" 

leaving  the  slower  oxen  to  bring  forward  the  naval 
12-pounders,  then  led  the  two  field  batteries  of  his 
division  at  a  smart  trot  far  ahead  of  the  infantry  to 
within  800  yards  of  the  river  to  sweep  the  kopjes  on 
the  far  side.  Sectional  commanders  gave  the  objec- 
tive, Fort  Wylie,  the  range  1,200  yards,  and  the  guns 
swept  down  in  line  at  6.20  A.M.  with  neither  sight 
nor  sound  of  the  enemy. 

"Halt!     Action  front!" 

The  drivers  lifted  their  whips  as  they  drew  up 
their  sweating  horses,  the  limber  gunners  were  twist- 
ing in  their  seats,  prepared  to  dismount —  Bang! 
went  a  signal  gun  beyond  the  river.  Then  burst 
a  sound  like  the  anchor  chain  rattling  through  the 
hawse  hole,  a  crash  of  thunder  and  a  ripping,  tear- 
ing, whistling  and  detonation  as  if  all  the  fiends  in 
hell  were  loosed. 

Maxims  and  automatic  1-pounders  had  opened  from 
the  kopjes  by  the  river,  every  gun  on  the  hills  behind 
had  spoken.  And  from  every  ridge  and  the  fort 
beyond  the  Tugela,  and  worse  yet,  from  the  trenches 
on  the  south  bank  of  the  river,  which  had  been  quickly 
reoccupied  by  the  Ermelo  commando  under  cover  of 
the  thicket,  a  terrific  rifle  fire  burst  in  the  face  of  the 
British. 

The  two  batteries  bore  the  brunt  in  the  centre. 
Without  direct  support,  they  were  suddenly  assailed 
with  a  hail  of  bullets  poured  in  at  point-blank  range, 
the  terrible  phut-phut  gun  across  the  river  searched 

235 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

them  out  with  its  cruel  little  shells,  and  ere  the  guns 
were  unlimbered  half  the  teams  were  down,  gunners 
and  drivers  were  writhing  on  the  ground,  and  it  was 
impossible  to  retire  from  the  trap.  The  discipline  of 
the  artillery  responded  to  the  test.  The  wagons 
were  somewhat  sheltered  in  a  donga,  but  the  detach- 
ment high  numbers,  rushing  forward,  cut  loose  the 
tangled  teams,  dragged  the  limbers  behind  the  guns, 
"  changed  rounds  "  to  replace  casualties,  and  served 
ammunition  as  if  on  a  field  day,  the  gunners  working 
the  guns  steadily  until  Fort  Wylie  and  the  surround- 
ing kopjes  erupted  with  bursting  shrapnel. 

The  Creusots  on  Grobler's  had  the  exact  range, 
however,  and  their  40-pound  missives  of  steel  and 
balls  ploughed  their  way  through  the  devoted  batter- 
ies. One  shell  wiped  a  subdivision  practically  out  of 
existence,  but  the  survivors,  finding  their  gun  use- 
less, ran  to  augment  the  detachments  on  either  side 
of  them. 

Colonel  Long  fell  dangerously  wounded  fifteen 
minutes  after  the  fight  opened,  and  was  carried  to  a 
donga  in  rear,  shot  through  the  stomach,  arm,  and 
back.  Delirious  from  the  sun  and  loss  of  blood,  he 
continually  muttered,  "  My  brave  gunners !  my  brave 
gunners !  "  The  two  battery  captains,  Goldie  and 
Schrieber,  were  shot  dead.  Colonel  Hunt  fell  next. 
Then  Lieutenants  Gethin  and  Elton  were  wounded, 
but  they  clung  to  their  guns  until  a  second  bullet 
brought  down  Elton,  and  Gethin  fainted  from  loss  of 

236 


Gunners  in  Face  of  Certain  Death 

blood.  Lieutenant  Gryles  was  shot  trying  to  aid 
Schrieber;  the  subdivision  sergeants  had  suffered  as 
severely,  but  the  surviving  subalterns,  Holford,  with 
his  face  gashed  by  a  splinter,  and  Birch,  distributed 
the  depleted  detachment  through  the  batteries  and 
slaved  at  the  guns  with  their  men  to  the  last.  Splen- 
did fellows  were  these  stalwart  British  gunners  who 
grimly  stood  by  their  guns  in  the  face  of  certain  death. 
Hellas  could  not  have  produced  greater  heroes ;  Leon- 
idas  would  have  been  proud  of  such. 

"You  must  abandon  the  battery,"  shouted  a  ser- 
geant as  he  sank  wounded  and  the  fire  increased. 
But  the  idea  was  scouted.  No.  3  of  one  gun  was 
shot  as  he  fixed  the  lanyard,  but  attempted  to  fire 
as  he  lay  on  the  ground.  The  downward  jerk  lifted 
the  friction  tube  and  it  snapped  harmlessly  above  the 
vent,  but  supporting  himself  by  the  wheel,  he  man- 
aged to  insert  another  tube  and  fired  his  gun  before 
another  arrived  to  take  his  place.  At  No.  5  gun, 
14th  Battery,  Nos.  2  and  4  alone  were  left,  but  they 
ran  up,  laid  and  fired  their  piece,  alternately  fetch- 
ing ammunition  from  the  limber.  One  fell,  and  the 
solitary  No.  4  served  that  gun  until  the  limber  con- 
tained case  shot  alone.  Pressing  home  double  charges 
he  flung  out  the  tins  of  balls  at  an  extreme  canister 
range,  searching  the  enemy  skulking  along  the  near 
bank ;  then  a  bullet  marked  him,  and  he  sank  across 
the  trail  of  the  now  silent  gun.  Wright  and  Hinton 
worked  two  guns  alone  until  they  could  get  no  more 

237 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

shell;  other  subdivisions  reduced  to  three  or  four 
men  also  fired  on  until  their  last  charge  was  ex- 
pended ;  then  the  remnant  crept  into  a  rut  to  await  a 
fresh  supply.  The  adjutant  Thomson  crawled  out 
for  a  blanket  for  Colonel  Long,  and  was  shot  down  as 
he  returned. 

Meanwhile  Hart's  brigade  had  advanced  in  quarter- 
column  to  force  Bridle  Drift  on  the  left.  Dornkop 
Spruit,  which  joins  the  Tugela  at  an  acute  angle, 
lay  in  front  of  part  of  the  brigade.  These  companies 
were  preparing  to  cross  to  deploy  beyond;  the  lead- 
ing battalions  had  advanced  in  close  formation  into  a 
salient  loop  of  the  river,  when  the  firing  burst  forth. 
The  van-guard  received  a  terrific  cross-fire  from  the 
bend,  besides  the  frontal  fire  from  the  kopjes,  and  a 
share  of  the  gunnery  from  Grobler's  Kloof.  Mad- 
dened by  the  surprise  and  consequent  loss,  the  impet- 
uosity of  the  gallant  Irish  was  restrained  with  diffi- 
culty, while  the  companies  deployed  in  open  order. 
At  every  point  rose  piles  of  white  stones  by  which 
the  Boers  had  previously  marked  out  exact  ranges, 
and  their  fire  with  gun  and  rifle  was  absolutely  accu- 
rate ;  but  the  troops  swept  forward  with  a  yell  of  rage 
and  defiance,  rolling  back  an  advance  guard  of  the 
enemy  intrenched  in  a  donga,  and  forcing  them  into 
the  river,  where  several  were  shot  or  drowned,  though 
many  escaped  along  the  wooded  bank. 

On,  through  the  wire  entanglements,  surged  the 
lines  of  Dublins,  Inniskil  lings,  and  Rangers,  closely 

238 


Irishmen  Reached  River  Bank 

supported  by  the  Borderers.  The  leading  lines  of 
skirmishers  were  swept  away  as  the  Boers,  on  flank 
and  front,  strove  to  hurl  back  the  assault;  but  deliv- 
ering steady  volleys,  advancing  in  short  rushes,  tak- 
ing advantage  of  every  bit  of  cover,  the  devoted 
Irishmen  finally  reached  the  river  bank.  Two  of 
Lyttleton's  battalions  now  moved  down  to  support, 
closely  followed  by  the  63d  and  64th  Batteries,  which 
were  splendidly  handled  by  Colonel  Parsons,  but  nar- 
rowly escaped  envelopment  and  were  forced  to  with- 
draw further  back. 

Many,  wounded  in  the  earlier  advance,  struggled 
to  their  feet  and  came  into  the  firing  line,  but  nothing 
could  be  seen  of  the  intrenched  enemy  save  the  pale 
smoke  rising  from  the  Mausers,  blending  with  the 
sun  haze  on  the  kopjes  circling  the  river  bend. 
Pretorius,  with  his  Boer  and  Irish  gunners,  turned 
on  "Long  Tom"  from  Grobler's,  and  the  first  shell 
ploughed  into  the  Inniskillings,  leaving  a  furrow  of 
mangled  flesh  and  agony;  a  second  sought  out  the 
Rangers. 

"  No  use  being  torn  up  like  field  dummies,"  shouted 
a  Dublin  oflicer,  as  he  scrambled  down  the  bank  and 
felt  his  way  into  the  drift.  He  fell,  but  a  few  men 
were  following.  Then  a  little  bugler  of  the  Dublins 
named  Dunn,  who  had  been  ordered  to  the  rear  but 
had  trudged  on  with  his  company,  ran  in  the  lead, 
sounding  the  advance.  Several  companies  immedi- 
ately fixed  bayonets  and  dashed  down  to  the  water. 

289 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

They  were  met  with  a  heavy  fire,  but  the  shrill  notes 
of  the  boy  rang  above  the  volleys,  until  a  shrapnel 
burst  over  him,  mangling  the  brave  young  body 
which  was  swept  down  stream. 

With  a  shout  of  rage  the  bafifled  soldiers  plunged 
into  the  river  and  dragged  ^  him  to  land.  Then  they 
swept  through  the  merciless  hail  into  the  drift  and 
started  across  to  rout  out  the  hidden  foe.  But  they 
stepped  into  ten  feet  of  water,  where  had  been  a  ford 
of  three.  Weighted  down  with  ammunition  and 
equipment,  many  sank,  were  caught  in  the  barbed 
meshes  and  rose  no  more;  others,  struggling  vainly 
for  a  footing,  were  swept  into  mid  stream,  and 
drowned  where  the  water  surged  over  the  artful  dam. 

But  holding  their  rifles  over  their  heads,  swimming 
as  they  might,  some  soldiers  struggled  on.  The  water 
sizzled  with  bullets,  which  dropped  around  them ;  one 
after  another  sank  with  wounds  or  exhaustion,  and  a 
mere  handful  reached  land.  At  the  glint  of  steel  the 
Boers  along  the  bank  scurried  away  to  the  kopjes 
like  rabbits,  pursued  by  British  volleys  from  the  other 
side;  but  the  little  party  gazed  round  in  bewilder- 
ment, the  target  from  a  thousand  hidden  rifles  above 
and  around  them  —  then,  finding  they  were  unsup- 
ported and  that  nothing  could  live  to  face  such  a  fire, 
they  turned  sullenly  to  the  water  again  and  struggled 
back,  a  meagre  few  surviving  to  rejoin  their  comrades 

1  Dunn  survived  his  injuries,  and  has  since  been  decorated  hy 
the  Queen. 

240 


Attempt  to  Cross  the  Bridge 

on  the  south  bank,  who  were  sustaining  steady  vol- 
leys. Here  the  regiments  lay  along  a  vast  cabbage 
field,  without  a  vestige  of  cover,  stormed  at  and 
hailed  at,  but  grimly  waiting  for  the  order  to  retire. 

The  advance  of  Hildyard's  brigade  in  the  centre, 
prepared  by  the  silenced  batteries,  was  covered  only 
by  the  naval  battery  of  Long's  division  under  Lieu- 
tenant Ogilvy  of  the  "Tartar,"  who  had  brought  his 
guns  into  action,  400  yards  behind  the  field  batteries, 
and  escaped  much  of  the  fire  that  had  mowed  down 
the  gunners.  Ogilvy  concentrated  a  terrific  fire  on 
the  trenches  surrounding  Fort  Wylie,  which  the 
4.7-inch  guns  in  rear  were  doing  their  best  to  demol- 
ish. The  Boer  volleys  did  not  perceptibly  decrease, 
however,  though  the  Queen's  and  the  Devons  forced 
their  way  down  toward  the  river,  the  former  occupy- 
ing Colenso  station.  The  Wylie  kopje  was  then  in 
part  subdued.  A  number  of  skirmishers  pressed  on 
to  the  water  and  attempted  to  cross  by  the  bridge  and 
main  drifts,  but  these  were  immediately  swept  away. 

The  commander-in-chief,  with  General  Clery,  who 
was  in  immediate  command,  had  followed  the  ad- 
vance closely.  Realizing  the  impossibility  of  forcing 
the  crossing  without  direct  artillery  support,  he 
diverted  a  portion  of  the  brigade  to  attempt  to  cover 
the  withdrawal  of  the  silenced  batteries.  Colonel 
Bullock  with  two  companies  of  Devons  managed 
to  reach  the  guns,  and  two  companies  of  the  Scots 
Fusiliers  crawled  along  to  a  donga  near  by ;  but  this 
16  241 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

infantry  advance  revived  the  diminished  fire  from 
the  environs  of  the  fort,  and  a  general  movement 
toward  the  guns  had  to  be  abandoned.  BuUer  and 
Clery  had  ridden  along  the  line  to  try  to  avert  disas- 
ter, fearlessly  exposing  themselves.  Both  were 
slightly  wounded,  —  Buller  by  a  shrapnel  ball,  Clery 
grazed  by  a  bullet,  —  and  several  officers  of  their  staff 
were  killed  around  them.  They  now  called  for  vol- 
unteers to  try  to  extricate  the  guns. 

The  ammunition  wagons  were  sheltered  in  a  water 
course,  700  yards  behind  the  batteries.  By  great 
exertion,  Captain  Schofield,  R.  A.,  Captain  Con- 
greve,  the  press  censor,  and  Lord  Roberts'  son, 
Lieutenant  Roberts,  all  of  the  general  staff,  assisted 
by  Nurse,  Taylor,  Young,  Petts,  Rockall,  Lucas,  and 
Williams  of  the  66th  Battery,  took  out  two  wagon 
teams  to  bring  in  the  guns.  Before  they  were  half 
way  across,  a  shell  blew  Roberts'  horse  to  pieces,  and 
he  fell  badly  mangled ;  Congreve  was  shot  down  100 
yards  from  the  batteries,  his  horse  was  killed  beside 
him,  and  he  was  twice  wounded,  ere  he  could  crawl 
to  cover.  But  the  others  limbered  up  two  guns,  and 
though  they  lost  one  entire  team  and  several  men 
fell,  the  animals  were  redistributed,  the  dead  horses 
cut  loose,  and  the  two  guns  finally  dragged  to  cover. 

The  dead  and  wounded,  however,  had  to  be  left, 
many  being  killed  as  they  lay  on  the  field.  Congreve 
managed  to  drag  himself  into  the  donga  in  which 
Long  and   the   surviving  gunners  were   lying.     At 

242 


Attempt  to  Aid  the  Wounded 

this  juncture  Surgeon-major  Babtie,  waving  a  white 
handkerchief,  galloped  out  to  attend  the  wounded. 
The  Boers  fired  heavily  at  him,  however,  his  horse 
receiving  three  bullets  ere  it  fell,  he  being  slightly- 
wounded  as  he  dashed  for 'the  donga  on  foot.  He 
dressed  the  wounds  of  the  party,  and  turned  to  find 
that  Congreve  had  crawled  out  to  aid  Roberts  the 
moment  his  wounds  were  dressed.  Seeing  the  former, 
faint  from  loss  of  blood,  trying  to  bring  in  the  lieu- 
tenant, he  dashed  out  to  the  guns  to  aid  him,  and 
together  they  carried  in  the  mangled  body  of  "  Bobs 
Junior,"  the  bullets  swishing  up  the  dust  around 
them  until  they  reached  shelter. 

An  ambulance  that  started  out  to  try  to  bring  in  the 
wounded  from  the  donga  was  driven  back  by  a  heavy 
fire,  and  after  that  attempt  failed,  the  limbers  again 
tried  to  go  out  to  the  guns,  but  horses  and  men  fell 
so  rapidly  that  the  second  attempt  was  abandoned. 
At  this  juncture  Captain  Reed  of  the  7th  Battery, 
operating  on  the  right,  heard  of  the  difficulty  and 
called  for  volunteers  from  his  battery  to  make  a 
final  attempt.  Thirteen  responded:  Money,  Reeve, 
Clarke,  Musgrave,  Robertson,  Woodward,  Wright, 
Ayles,  Hawkins,  Lennox,  Nugent,  Warden,  and 
Felton.i     They   took  out  three   teams  and   limbers. 

1  Major  Babtie,  Captains  Congreve  and  Reed,  Lieutenant  Rob- 
erts and  Nurse  were  awarded  the  Victoria  Cross.  Roberts  only 
survived  his  wounds  a  few  hours,  but  his  name  will  long  live  on  the 
roll  of  honor,  a  worthy  son  of  his  father.  His  Cross  was  given  to 
Lady  Roberts  by  the  Queen,  after  this  true  soldier-wife  had  said 

243 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Of  the  21  horses,  14  were  killed  ere  the  party  had 
covered  half  the  distance  from  the  donga,  and  though 
with  the  residue  of  his  men  Reed  extricated  three 
horses,  the  firing  grew  so  heavy  that  he  was  forced 
to  retire,  carrying  in  moSt  of  his  wounded,  but  leav- 
ing the  dead  on  the  field.  Until  night  he  did  not 
report  his  own  wound,  a  bullet  in  the  hip. 

Ogilvy's  naval  guns  at  this  time  had  lost  half  their 
oxen  and  were  also  in  danger.  The  sailors  offered  to 
hold  their  ground,  however,  and  keep  the  enemy  from 
the  abandoned  guns  before  them  until  dark,  when  all 
could  be  withdrawn.  But  Buller,  anticipating  the 
risk  of  envelopment  from  the  flank,  and  unable  to 
bring  up  infantry  to  support,  would  not  further 
endanger  this  more  important  battery.  It  was  retired 
with  great  difficulty  and  loss ;  the  native  drivers  rcr 
fused  to  approach,  and  the  depleted  teams  of  oxen 
driven  by  sailor-gunners  responded  obstinately  to 
their  strange  masters  'under  a  heavy  fire.  An  im- 
provised ammunition-wagon  was  abandoned,  but  this 
was  finally  saved  by  a  Natal  farmer  named  Pringle, 

farewell  to  the  General  and  was  left  to  face  her  sorrow  and  sus- 
pense alone.  The  nineteen  volunteers  who  had  assisted  were 
awarded  the  medal  for  Distinguished  Service  in  the  Field,  an  honor 
second  only  to  the  coveted  V.  C.  Captain  Schofield,  whose  gal- 
lantry was  equal  to  any  of  the  above,  was  not  recommended  for  a 
V.  C,  and  was  forced  to  be  content  with  special  mention  in  de- 
spatches. The  points  of  discrimination  in  bestowing  the  Cross  are 
necessarily  fine.  The  gallant  Schofield  did  not  receive  the  decora- 
tion because  it  was  in  line  of  his  duty  to  rescue  the  guns,  and 
the  other  oflB.cers  had  followed  their  own  initiative,  —  a  hardly  fair 
distinction. 

244 


Enemy  Pressed  their  Advantage 

who   inspanned  a  team  of  oxen  and   brought  it  in, 
though  the  mark  of  a  thousand  rifles. 

On  the  extreme  right,  Lord  Dundonald,  dismount- 
ing his  irregulars  and  mounted  infantry,  had  assailed 
Hlangwane  Hill.  The  South  African  Light  Horse 
received  their  baptism  of  fire  on  the  left.  Walter's 
composite  corps  advanced  in  the  centre  while  Thorney- 
croft's  Horse  attempted  to  turn  the  extreme  Boer  left. 
But  the  mobile  foe  adroitly  turned  the  British  flank, 
and  Thorneycroft  was  forced  to  withdraw  down  a 
narrow  valley  with  heavy  loss. 

The  enemy  pressed  their  advantage,  closing  in 
force  on  the  right  of  the  British  line.  With  a  single 
section  of  the  7th  Battery  and  his  practically  raw 
Colonials,  Dundonald  fought  stubbornly,  and  a  por- 
tion of  his  force  clung  tenaciously  to  the  side  of 
Hlangwane,  while  a  message  was  sent  to  the  centre 
for  reinforcements.  Half  of  Barton's  brigade  might 
have  been  detached  with  ease  and  the  position  taken. 
From  Hlangwane  Hill  the  entire  Boer  line  could  have 
been  enfiladed,  and  its  capture  would  have  turned  a 
reverse  to  an  advantage,  though  nothing  could  have 
achieved  instant  victory.  But  the  infantry  could  not 
be  detached  without  direct  orders  from  headquarters ; 
the  galloper  was  killed  looking  up  BuUer,  and  no  help 
was  sent.  The  risk  of  individual  initiative  in  a 
planned  battle  is  great,  but  a  regimental  or  brigade 
commander  who  had  acted  on  his  own  authority  and 
sent  a  battalion  or  two  of  the  supports  to  aid  Dun- 

245 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

donald  might  have  had  the  kudos  of  success  on  a  day 
of  universal  disaster. 

Along  the  whole  British  line,  the  checked  regi- 
ments held  their  ground.  The  midsummer  sun  blazed 
down  furiously  on  the  unprotected  men,  for  the 
December  heat  on  the  parched  veldt  runs  the  Soudan 
a  close  second.  But  continued  exposure  was  futile, 
and  after  eight  hours'  heavy  fighting  a  general  retire- 
ment was  ordered. 

The  brigades  of  Hart  and  Lyttleton  were  being 
searched  out  in  their  scanty  shelter  by  light  Boer 
guns,  which  had  been  moved  back  under  cover  of  the 
kopjes  and  circled  round  to  take  a  position  on  the 
military  crest  of  a  ridge  nearer  the  river.  But  even 
at  this  range  these  guns  could  not  be  located,  and 
inflicted  severe  loss.  When  the  "  Retire  "  sounded, 
there  was  no  panic.  Hildyard's  and  Barton's  brigades 
fell  back  very  steadily,  pursued  by  a  heavy  rifle-fire 
and  an  effective  shelling  from  the  quick-firers.  Hart's 
suffered  still  more  terribly  as  they  fell  back  across  the 
open,  Lyttleton 's  Rifle  regiments  receiving  their 
share  of  punishment  as  they  covered  the  movements. 

At  1.30  P.M.  the  worn  troops  were  out  of  rifle 
range,  and  plodded  their  way  into  camp,  pursued  by 
heavy  but  fortunately  inferior  shelling  from  the  hills. 
The  Boers  then  crossed  the  bridge,  reoccupying  their 
position  along  the  south  bank,  which  had  taught  a 
costly  lesson  that  day.  Dundonald  was  hardly 
pressed,    and  it  was   two   hours   after  he   received 

246 


Boers  Crossed  toward  Guns 

the  order  to  retire,  before  he  could  disengage  his 
force. 

Through  the  fatal  wound  of  an  orderly,  Colonel 
Bullock  with  the  twenty  survivors  of  the  artillery 
escort  was  not  notified  of  the  general  retirement, 
and  remained  in  the  donga  with  the  wounded.  The 
Boers  hurriedly  crossed  toward  the  guns  and  were 
greeted  by  a  scattering  volley  from  this  plucky 
handful.  Lieutenants  Birch  and  Holford  of  the 
artillery  volunteered  to  rush  out  and  fire  case  shot 
at  the  burghers,  but  this  would  have  courted  death 
and  could  not  save  the  guns,  so  it  was  forbidden. 
The  surviving  gunners  unfortunately  had  left  their 
carbines  with  the  limbers,  and  the  slightly  wounded 
artillery  men  were  unable  to  assist  in  the  defence. 
But  Boer  tactics  were  now  reversed,  and  though 
commando  after  commando  crossed  to  seize  the  guns, 
the  twenty  sheltered  British  kept  them  at  bay  until 
sunset,  when  an  enfilade  fire  was  poured  in  among 
them,  and  Bullock  arranged  an  armistice,  pointing 
out  that  the  donga  was  a  dressing  station,  and  it 
was  only  fair  that  the  surgeon  with  the  wounded 
officers  and  men  should  be  removed  to  a  place  of 
safety,  when  he  and  his  heroes  would  fight  on  to 
the  end. 

During  the  parley  a  number  of  Boers  crept  close  in 
and  swarmed  into  the  donga.  "  Surrender,  you  brave 
fool!  "  shouted  one  in  English.  The  colonel  emptied 
his  revolver  at  the  crowd  that  rushed  at  him,  and 

247 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

then  went  down  under  a  terrific  blow  with  a  clubbed 
rifle.  The  party  were  at  once  made  prisoners  by  the 
Johannes  burghers;  a  British  ambulance  was  hailed, 
and  filled  with  the  wounded,  but  the  remainder  were 
sent  to  Pretoria.  Though  wounded,  despite  Article 
2  of  the  Geneva  Convention  to  which  the  Transvaal 
so  proudly  subscribed,  the  Boers  refused  to  release 
Colonel  Hunt,  because  he  had  commanded  the  guns ; 
and  in  face  of  his  agony  and  protests,  he  was  taken 
from  the  stretcher  and  packed  off  with  the  rest. 

The  withdrawal  completed,  the  burghers  swarmed 
over  the  bridge  or  swam  the  river  at  all  points,  and 
commenced  to  strip  the  wounded  and  dead.  The 
veldt  was  strewn  with  helpless  forms,  and  near 
Bridle  Drift  the  dead  lay  in  heaps.  Their  need  of 
clothes  and  outfits  may  excuse  the  Boers,  but  brutes 
alone  would  strip  wounded  men  and  leave  them  naked 
under  a  blistering  sun.  Ghouls  also  hacked  fingers 
off  to  secure  rings,  and  some  mocked  and  maltreated 
the  stricken  men.  The  Roman  Catholic  chaplain  of 
the  Irish,  who  remained  on  the  field,  reported  that 
one  Boer  deliberately  smashed  in  the  face  of  a 
wounded  private  of  the  Rangers  with  his  heel,  shout- 
ing that  he  would  end  all  d — n  rooineks.  A  veldt 
cornet,  bettered  in  appearance  by  an  Arkansas  hobo, 
kicked  a  dying  soldier  who  struggled  to  retain  his 
boots. 

Yet  there  was  another  side,  for  a  fair-haired  Boer 
248 


Boer  Humanity 

laddie  swam  the  river  and  moved  naked  over  the  hot 
veldt,  giving  water  to  the  wounded.  And  indeed 
there  are  so  many  cases  of  Boer  humanity  on  the 
field,  that  the  frequent  instances  of  their  ferocity  are 
offset. 

In  the  war  of  1881  the  burghers  behaved  with 
utmost  brutality  in  every  instance,  and  I  fear  one 
can  give  little  credit  to  the  Transvaal  burghers.  But 
the  present  army  has  had  a  leavening  of  intelligent 
Free  Staters  and  aliens,  and  the  younger  generation 
of  Boers  have  learned  good  as  well  as  bad  from  their 
contact  with  the  despised  Uitlanders.  An  army  must 
be  judged  as  a  whole  and  officially.  There  has  been 
too  much  disposition  to  quote  individual  acts  against 
the  republics,  but  they  have  treated  prisoners  hu- 
manely ^  and  have  shown  every  disposition  to  carry 
on  the  war  in  a  civilized  manner.  Courage,  mag- 
nanimity, and  self-abnegation  are  attributes  of  the  sol- 
dier fostered  by  war.  Yet  some  men  will  be  turned 
to  savages  by  the  thought  of  carnage.     They  become 

1  Back-country  commandants  like  Snyman,  who  held  Lady 
Sarah  Wilson  close  prisoner  and  finally  exchanged  her  for  the 
convict  Viljoen,  the  man  who  deliberately  shelled  the  Mafeking 
women's  laager,  thinking  their  condition  would  induce  the  men  to 
surrender,  and  cut  native  women  to  the  bone  with  rawhides  for 
attempting  to  leave  the  city,  are  brutes  beyond  the  pale  of  civiliza- 
tion. The  black-list  of  Transvaalers  would  not  be  a  short  one  — 
and  the  brave  Cronje  is  in  the  category  —  but  their  deeds  are  over- 
shadowed by  the  actions  of  more  intelligent  leaders.  Joubert, 
Botha,  Meyer,  Prinsloo,  Coster,  and  others  were  foemen  worthy  of 
the  best  steel.  If  we  do  not  believe  their  cause  just,  let  us  at 
least  credit  them  with  fighting,  and  fighting  bravely,  for  what  they 
deemed  right, 

249 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

hardened,  brutalized;  for  homicidal  appetite  is  cre- 
ated, and  seeks  unnecessary  gratification. 

The  looting  was  stayed  by  the  approach  of  the 
ambulances,  which  were  greeted  by  two  field  guns  and 
several  volleys  fired  at  close  range.  The  bearer  com- 
panies were  recruited  from  the  Uitlanders,  and  several 
Americans  were  enrolled  therein.  They  advanced 
steadily  with  a  large  Red  Cross  flag  at  their  head, 
and  the  emblem  itself  was  torn  by  bullets.  In  vain 
the  surgeons  galloped  to  the  Boer  lines  waving  their 
handkerchiefs  and  pointing  to  the  flag.  Eighteen  of 
the  ambulance  men  were  killed  or  wounded  ere  a 
Boer  officer,  more  humane  than  his  fellows,  rode 
down  the  line  and  checked  the  firing.  It  is  said  that 
the  burghers  knew  this  role  of  the  hated  Uitlanders, 
and  shot  them  down  determinedly.  Many  indi- 
vidual shots  were  fired  afterwards  and  one  surgeon 
was  killed.  This  shooting  was  deliberative  and 
inexcusable. 

Major  Barton  of  the  Rangers  had  been  cut  off  with 
several  men,  whom  he  disarmed  and  detached  to  aid 
the  wounded  when  the  ambulances  arrived.  Collect- 
ing their  water-bottles,  he  went  to  fill  them  at  the 
river  to  revive  the  stricken  men  on  the  veldt.  He 
was  surrounded,  and  an  Austrian  officer  in  charge  of 
the  party,  seeing  he  was  a  combatant  officer,  saved 
him  from  the  charge  of  being  a  spy,  and  to  satisfy 
the  burghers  placed  him  on  parole  ere  he  was  re- 
leased.     In  striking   conscientiousness,  he  reported 

250 


Wounded  Sent  to  Hospitals 

this  at  headquarters,  and  General  BuUer  relieved  him 
from  duty  and  sent  him  down  country  so  that  he 
should  not  break  his  word.  This  trivial  incident  is  a 
significant  tribute  to  the  code  of  honor  of  the  British 
officer. 

By  sunset  over  800  wounded  had  been  collected  on 
the  field,  passed  through  the  Field  Hospital,  and 
been  sent  by  train  to  the  permanent  hospitals  at  East- 
court,  Maritzburg,  and  Durban.  Sir  William  Mac- 
Cormac  and  the  celebrated  surgeon,  Mr.  Treves, 
superintended  the  treatment  and  transportation. 

During  the  evening  an  informal  truce  was  arranged 
to  bury  the  dead.  The  naval  guns  in  rear  had  been 
trained  to  cover  the  abandoned  batteries,  and  volun- 
teers were  ready  to  extricate  them  at  night.  Opera- 
tions were  suspended  by  the  truce,  however,  under 
cover  of  which  BuUer  could  have  brought  in  his  guns. 
He  forbade  the  attempt  as  a  violation  of  the  armis- 
tice; but  the  Boers,  having  no  such  scruples,  and 
covered  by  the  truce,  hooked  up  teams  and  took  the 
pieces  over  the  river.  The  guns  were  fairly  theirs, 
however. 


251 


CHAPTER  IX 

Re-echoes  of  Colenso.  —  The  Question  of  Artillery.  — 
Lyddite.  —  Effect  of  Reverse  in  England.  —  Lord 
Roberts.  —  Christmas  at  the  Front.  —  Effect  of 
Victory  on  the  Boers.  —  The  Assault  of  Lady- 
smith.  —  A  Brave  Defence  and  a  Brave  Attack.  — 
Treachery.  —  Boer  Positions  on  the  Tugela.  —  Diffi- 
culties of  South  Africa. 

"  Was  there  no  way  round?  "  ejaculated  the  United 
States  military  attache,  as  he  was  shown  the  posi- 
tions at  Colenso  after  the  reverse.  And  civilian 
tacticians  of  two  continents  have  taken  up  the  cry, 
with  bitter  criticism  of  General  BuUer.  But  with 
Ladysmith  the  centre  of  a  circle  of  very  difficult 
positions,  intrenched  at  all  assailable  points  by  an 
enemy  in  uninterrupted  occupancy  for  forty  days  and 
nights,  the  radius  marked  by  main  road  and  rail  had 
advantages  that  overruled  the  consideration  of  radii 
that  might  have  been  drawn  from  weaker  points  of 
the  circumference.  Wide  detours  could  have  been 
made  and  a  passage  forced  through  at  some  more 
assailable  spot,  but  to  relieve  Ladysmith,  communi- 
cation had  to  be  reopened  with  the  South.  Ammuni- 
tion and  supplies  cannot  be  taken  over  continuous 
kopjes  with  a  mobile  foe  on  either  flank,  and  for  the 

252 


Plan  to  Effect  a  Lodgment 

relief  of  the  city,  possession  of  the  railroad  or  an 
accessible  route  to  the  coast  was  essential. 

Granted,  however,  that  Colenso  was  the  point  to 
attack,  the  method  of  its  delivery  is  open  to  criticism. 
"It  is  pardonable  to  be  defeated,  but  never  to  be 
taken  by  surprise."  The  attack  was  planned  accord- 
ing to  text-book,  but  the  task  was  impossible,  and 
the  fault  lies  not  so  much  with  General  Buller  as 
with  individual  leaders,  who  were  completely  tricked 
by  the  Boer  silence  until  the  whole  battle  opened  and 
was  decided  by  a  virtual  ambuscade.  The  commander- 
in-chief  knew  the  Boer  better  than  his  generals,  and 
did  not  expect  to  sweep  all  resistance  directly  before 
him.  His  plan  was  to  effect  a  lodgment  beyond  the 
Tugela  at  the  foot  of  Fort  Wylie,  and  by  Hart's 
flank  attack,  seize  the  row  of  kopjes  along  the  direct 
front.  The  successive  ridges  held  by  the  Boers 
would  then  mask  each  other,  and  from  these  intrenched 
kopjes  he  hoped  to  shell  out  and  take  the  succeeding 
positions  ridge  by  ridge.  The  plan  of  operations  was 
skilful,  and  deserved  to  succeed. 

Had  Hart  been  able  to  force  the  ford  on  the  left, 
and  had  the  frontal  attack  been  supported  by  artil- 
lery, the  river  might  have  been  crossed.  But  the 
wisdom  of  the  Napoleonic  maxim,  "  Never  do  what 
your  enemy  wishes,  for  the  reason  that  he  wishes," 
was  unfortunately  exemplified.  The  Irish  brigade 
advanced  in  quarter-column  just  where  the  enemy 
desired,  and  attempted  to  cross  the  drift  that  they  had 

253 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

flooded.  On  the  right  they  lured  Long's  field  guns 
into  the  trap  that  they  had  prepared.  The  Intelli- 
gence Department  should  have  discovered  all  this,  you 
will  say.  But  scouts  cannot  walk  up  to  the  enemy's 
guns,  and  little  that  ordinary  scouting  could  accom- 
plish was  left  undone.  While  the  Boers  completely 
misled  the  British  as  to  their  disposition  and  re- 
source, they  did  not  attempt  to  give  the  impression 
that  they  had  entirely  evacuated  the  position.  They 
sustained  patrols  and  outposts  that  kept  scouts  well 
on  the  south  bank  of  the  Tugela,  but  their  trenches 
were  accurately  located,  though  nothing  more  was 
known. 

A  cunning  secret  service  is  adverse  to  the  British 
idea.  Many  a  foreign  mercenary  or  Dutch  farmer 
could  have  been  bought  or  spies  enlisted.  But 
while  Transvaal  gold  has  been  spent  like  water  on 
Machiavellic  service,  ranging  from  the  efforts  of  Leyds 
to  create  international  complications  by  sending  bo- 
gus British  recruiting  agents  to  foreign  capitals,  and 
disseminating  stories  that  led  to  unnecessary  seizures 
of  mail  vessels  for  carrying  contraband,  to  the  cor- 
ruption of  Johannesburg  barmaids,  as  suggested  by 
Mrs.  Kruger,  and  the  enlistment  of  colonial  traitors 
in  the  volunteers  to  poison  army  horses  and  send 
out  reports  through  disloyal  farmers,  British  secret 
service  has  been  practically  nil.  But  the  bloody 
lessons  were  not  lost,  and  only  by  costly  experience 
can  tactics  be  evolved  to  suit  modern  warfare.     A 

254 


Praise  for  "Army  of  Herders" 

frank  recognition  of  mistakes  should  not  impair  con- 
fidence in  the  army  or  its  leaders,  and  a  close  study 
of  past  errors  is  of  greater  importance  than  a  review 
of  previous  successes. 

And  now  for  a  word  of  praise  for  the  "army  of 
herders  "  and  their  leaders.  For  three  days  they  had 
rested  in  their  bombproofs,  resisting  the  invitation  to 
duel  with  the  naval  gunners,  who  so  thoroughly 
shelled  the  position  without  reply.  They  had  marked 
every  range  with  white  stone  heaps ;  to  the  efforts  of 
skirmishers  to  force  them  to  unmask  their  position 
they  vouchsafed  no  reply,  and  challenges  that  trained 
armies  would  rapidly  have  answered  were  disdained. 
The  artillerymen  taking  the  range  and  locating  a  posi- 
tion for  the  guns  were  unmolested.  Then  they  saw 
the  confidence  which  they  had  inspired  impel  the 
British  onward,  Long's  batteries  sweeping  forward 
on  the  right  centre,  Hart's  brigade  in  quarter-column 
on  the  left,  —  both  seemingly  irresistible  targets  for 
the  outposts.  But  not  a  shot  was  fired;  they  awaited 
the  approach  of  their  victims  into  a  certain  and  un- 
failing zone,  when  they  loosed  the  restraint  and 
achieved  a  brilliant  success. 

It  was  partly  accidental.  Hart  had  first  to  cross 
a  spruit  and  donga  at  accessible  points,  and  could  not 
deploy  until  he  had  passed  beyond.  Long  had  ex- 
plicit orders  to  keep  his  field  batteries  with  the  6th 
Brigade.  But  he  took  a  gunner's  initiative,  and 
after  superficial  investigation  led  his  guns  forward 

255 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

to  within  300  yards  of  the  reoccupied  trenches,  rely- 
ing, however,  on  a  portion  of  Barton's  brigade  to 
scour  the  woods  in  which  the  Boers  were  hiding. 
The  order  for  this  miscarried. 

The  drill-books  need  revision.  As  laid  down,  1700 
yards  is  the  limit  of  artillery  vulnerability  from  rifle 
fire,  but  the  Mauser  can  be  effective  to  2000  yards. 
This  rifle  is  the  best  extant.  The  Spaniards  and 
Boers  have  demonstrated  its  superiority  against 
the  Krag-Jorgensen  and  Lee-Metford  respectively. 
Eventually,  I  think  the  British  arm  will  be  rated 
second  and  the  Krag  third,  though  the  detached 
magazine  has  many  disadvantages. 

There  was  another  combined  fault  and  accident  of 
war.  Hlangwane  Hill,  on  the  near  side  of  the  river, 
was  a  key  to  the  situation.  The  Boer  left  was 
strong,  and  covered  some  stiff  hills  and  country,  but 
there  was  no  river  to  cross,  and  the  northward  trend 
of  the  Tugela  here  cut  off  the  Boer  retreat.  The 
hills  dominated  the  Colenso  position  in  flank  at  ex- 
treme range,  but  well  within  reach  of  the  naval  guns. 

The  importance  of  gaining  a  position  across  the 
river,  and  a  fatal  underrating  of  the  strength  of  the 
enemy  led  its  value  to  be  minimized,  and  its  capture 
was  left  to  the  Colonials.  Dundonald  soon  realized 
both  the  importance  of  the  position  and  his  inability 
to  take  it  single-handed,  and  through  the  lack  of 
initiative  of  officers  of  Barton's  brigade  and  the 
death  of  the  galloper  sent  on  to  Buller  for  orders, 

256 


Spirit  of  Initiative  must  be  Fostered 

the  Colonials  were  unsupported  until  the  order  for 
retirement,  which  they  executed  unwillingly  and 
with  difficulty. 

The  South  African  campaign  has  furnished  glaring 
instances  of  excessive  initiative  and  the  lack  of  that 
quality,  of  debatable  value  in  war.  In  the  extended 
formations  of  the  day  a  spirit  of  initiative  unknown 
and  unnecessary  in  the  massed  formations  of  the  great 
Frederick  must  be  fostered  not  only  in  officers,  but  in 
the  men.  The  commander  of  an  army  now  cannot 
hope  to  achieve  success  unless  he  can  rely  on  the 
anticipation  of  his  desire  by  subordinate  commanders 
even  to  the  least  degree,  and  count  on  an  intelligent 
initiative  by  which  they  will  meet  the  exigiencies  of 
the  situation  in  a  manner  calculated  to  further  the 
general  plan.  Unlooked-for  contingencies  must  arise 
in  a  modern  battle,  when  the  delay  of  forwarding  a 
report  and  receiving  direct  orders  would  prove  fatal. 
The  Boers  have  given  many  practical  illustrations 
of  the  value  of  collective  individuality  at  critical 
moments.  Pedantry  has  established  defined  rules 
for  every  occasion  and  emergency  in  the  British 
army,  but  the  spirit  of  forethought  and  individuality 
of  officers  leads  more  often  to  success  than  does 
rigid  observance  of  rules.  But  initiative  that  ends  in 
failure  may  have  a  court-martial  sequel. 

General  Buller's  weakest  arm  was  artillery.     The 
recognized  proportion   of  three   guns   per  thousand 
infantry  is  an  estimate  that  will  now  be  very  consid- 
17  257 


In  South  Africa  with  Duller 

erably  augmented.  Long  range  and  barbed  wire 
rather  resolve  field  into  siege  operations ;  they  are  no 
longer  widely  separate.  In  a  difficult  country  the 
need  of  howitzer  batteries  is  paramount.  Under 
what  I  will  now  term  obsolete  rule,  Buller  should 
have  had  at  least  sixty-six  guns.  He  had  but  thirty- 
six  field  guns,  —  one  battery  of  which  was  operating 
as  horse  artillery  with  Dundonald,  —  and  the  naval 
contingent,  which  in  an  attack  like  that  of  Colenso 
were  worth  more  than  the  two  brigade  divisions. 

There  is  much  hysterical  gush  written  about  the 
outranging  of  the  British  field  guns  by  Boer  artillery, 
the  critics  overlooking  the  conflicting  claims  of 
mobility  and  range.  The  Boers  had  ample  time  to 
place  heavy  guns  into  position  which  naturally 
outranged  the  field  pieces  of  their  opponents,  built 
chiefly  for  rapidity  of  movement.  The  field  artillery 
is  satisfactory  for  its  own  work.  It  is  not  intended 
for  siege  purposes;  and  the  fault  lay  in  the  tardy 
despatch  of  the  howitzer  batteries  which  could 
operate  effectively  against  strongly  intrenched  posi- 
tions. Since  naval  guns  are  not  always  available, 
there  is  a  distinct  need  also  of  heavier  cannon,  which 
can  be  detached  and  mounted  for  effective  field  ser- 
vice from  the  garrison  artillery. 

That  the  field  guns  could  and  should  be  improved, 
I  do  not  deny.  The  War  Office  for  several  years 
has  shelved  the  question  of  improving  the  field  bat- 
teries.    They  realized  that  the  practice  of  warfare  was 

258 


Field  Guns 

in  course  of  revolution,  and  with  an  economic  wisdom 
that  has  caught  them  napping,  they  were  waiting 
until  the  best  gun  on  the  market  had  been  evolved, 
when  they  could  re-arm  the  batteries  according  to  a 
developed  situation.  Experimental  batteries  have 
tried  new  guns,  but  England  does  not  share  the 
feverish  apprehensions  of  war  suffered  by  the  Conti- 
nental Powers.  In  waiting  to  profit  by  their  demon- 
strations, she  suddenly  found  herself  a  principal  in  a 
war  with  one  of  the  most  difficult  opponents  in  his- 
tory. She  had  to  face  the  most  retrogressive,  yet  one 
of  the  bravest,  of  the  world's  races,  who  had  pur- 
chased fine  military  brains  and  weapons  in  Europe, 
and  in  a  country  built  by  nature  in  impregnable 
fortresses,  they  applied  them  in  combination  with 
their  own  singular  methods  and  steadfast  courage. 

Both  Germany  and  France  observe  absolute  secrecy 
with  regard  to  their  weapons.  In  1897,  Germany 
expended  forty-four  million  marks  on  a  quick-firing 
field-gun.  France  then  at  once  equipped  one  hun- 
dred field  batteries  with  a  new  quick  firer.  Russia, 
of  course,  was  next  moved  to  action,  and  General 
Engelhardt  devoted  himself  to  perfecting  an  improved 
field  gun,  which  was  supplied  to  the  field  batteries  by 
the  Alexandrousk  and  Pontilov  works. 

The  French  and  German  field  guns  outrange  the 
British  15-pounder  by  1000  yards.  The  French 
weapon,  which  is  the  more  perfect,  I  believe,  has  a 
calibre  of  three  inches ;   its  recoil  is  entirely  nega- 

259 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

tived,  and  it  can  thus  deliver  fifteen  shots  per 
minute.  This  is  nearly  five  times  as  many  as  those 
fired  by  the  United  States  field  gun,  and  three  times 
as  many  as  the  British  field  gun  with  spade  attach- 
ment. The  Russian  gun  is  a  14-pounder  (calibre 
3.42),  with  a  muzzle  velocity  of  1,950  feet  per 
second,  and  a  stated  record  of  sixteen  shots  per 
minute,  the  recoil  being  checked  by  hydraulic 
buffers,  and  negatived  by  india-rubber  springs  and 
an  attachment  similar  to  the  telescopic  spade  of  Sir 
George  Clarke  which  is  now  fitted  to  the  British  field 
guns. 

The  Transvaal  had  quietly  purchased  an  ample 
equipment  of  Krupp  and  Canet  quick-firers,  and 
vicious  little  Vickers  Maxims  (.37  mil.),  which  spit 
out  a  demoralizing  stream  of  20 -oz.  shells.  The  75 
mil.  Creusot,  that  is,  the  Schneider-Canet  (14J- 
pounder),  of  which  the  Boers  have  four  eight-gun 
batteries,  is  1  cwt.  lighter  than  the  British  15-pounder; 
its  shrapnel  has  234  bullets  (24  more  than  its  oppo- 
nent), and  its  recoil  is  checked  by  the  Engelhardt 
(Russian)  attachment.  It  sustained  a  fire  of  ten 
rounds  per  minute  at  its  trial  at  Le  Creusot  ^  on  behalf 

1  The  celebrated  Le  Creusot  works  were  founded  in  France  by 
an  Englishman  named  Wilkinson  in  time  to  furnish  arms  for  the 
sea  and  land  forces  when  France  was  affording  not  wholly  disinter- 
ested aid  to  the  American  colonies.  The  founder  was  one  of  the 
many  Britishers  who  sympathized  with  the  revolted  colonists,  who 
were  fighting  for  the  very  principle  that  English  people  had  striven 
to  maintain  against  the  Stuarts,  and  which  Anglo-Saxon  Uitlanders 
have  demanded  in  vain  from  President  Kruger.    "Wilkinson  could 

260 


Equipment  of  Boers 

of  the  Transvaal  government.  Its  shrapnel  range  is 
4,500  yards,  with  a  muzzle  velocity  of  1,837  feet 
per  second.  Besides  these,  the  Boers  have  several 
Creusot  and  inferior  heavy  guns,  4,  4.7,  and  6  inch, 
mounted  on  specially  built  carriages. 

By  dint  of  long  practice  in  moving  loaded  wagons 
across  their  frightful  country,  they  have  infused 
miraculous  mobility  into  their  massive  Creusots,  and 
by  means  of  blocks  and  tackle  and  the  simple  intro- 
duction of  ordinary  ploughs,  requisitioned  from  the 
farms  and  fixed  to  drag-ropes  to  retard  descent,  40- 
pounders  and  large  calibre  howitzers  have  been  moved 
from  hill  to  hill  with  astounding  celerity. 

But  for  the  naval  guns,  the  British  army  would 
have  been  in  sore  plight.  For  field  guns  to  come 
within  possible  range  of  the  main  artillery  position 
was  impossible,  since  the  former  was  chosen  far  in 
rear,  and  the  opposing  gunners  would  be  within  easy 
rifle  range  of  the  foremost  trenches.  To  pit  field 
guns  against  intrenched  riflemen  is  futile.  The 
Boers  have  fuses  timed  for  5,200  yards;  the  shrap- 
nel opposing  them  is  limited  to  4,100.  Beyond  5,000 
yards  the  fire  of  the  British  field  guns  is  precarious, 
and  5,500  is  their  limit  unless  the  trail  is  sunken,  at 
extreme  risk  to  mountings. 

Dr.  Johnson,  speaking  of  the  insidious  danger  of 

not  obtain  a  settlement,  and  was  ruined.  Singularly,  a  British  com- 
pany which  was  working  Le  Creusot  during  the  Franco-Prussian 
war  was  also  ruined  when  its  bills  on  the  imperial  government  were 
rejected  by  the  Commune. 

261 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

small  debts,  said,  "  Big  debts  are  like  big  guns ;  they 
make  much  noise,  but  do  little  harm."  Until  the 
perfection  of  the  elongated  projectile  and  flattened 
trajectory,  the  effect  of  artillery  was  rather  moral 
than  material.  Before  assaulting  the  Diippel  re- 
doubts, the  Prussians  prepared  the  advance  by  firing 
11,500  shell  in  less  than  six  hours.  These  inflicted 
small  loss  but  great  demoralization  on  the  plucky 
Danes.  Artillery  is  now  a  strong  deciding  factor  in 
reducing  the  fire  of  an  intrenched  enemy  and  making 
assault  within  the  realms  of  possibility.  Moral  effect 
remains,  however,  and  five  minutes'  furious  shelling 
will  generally  be  more  efi&cacious  than  an  hour's 
desultory  fire. 

The  early  British  successes  in  South  Africa  were 
not  helpful,  inasmuch  as  they  gave  false  hypotheses 
for  a  general  plan,  and  caused  loss  of  life  and  time 
pending  rectification.  The  howitzer  batteries  were 
delayed  to  the  last,  adjudged  useful  perhaps  in  re- 
ducing Bloemfontein,  necessary  only  for  the  fall  of 
Pretoria.  The  authorities  overlooked  the  miles  of 
natural  fortresses  to  be  overcome  ere  Natal  was 
cleared  or  the  enemy's  country  invaded. 

The  siege  train  consisted  of  fourteen  6 -inch,  eight 
5-inch,  and  eight  4-inch  howitzers.  The  6-inch  has 
a  range  of  10,000  yards,  the  others  firing  9,000  yards. 
Their  high-angle  fire  of  35°  to  40°  enables  them  to 
lob  shells  over  the  heads  of  advancing  infantry,  to 
cover  assault  almost  to  the  point  of  the  final  rush  with 

262 


Invention  of  Woolwich  Arsenal 

the  bayonet.  Field  guns  must  usually  cease  firing 
when  the  lines  of  attack  are  within  500  yards  of  the 
position,  though  this  rule  is  governed  by  the  config- 
uration of  the  ground. 

Lyddite,  the  bursting  charge  of  the  shells  fired  by 
the  howitzers,  is  an  improvement  on  the  French 
melenite.  A  secret  invention  of  Woolwich  Arsenal, 
it  is  named  after  the  gunnery  range  at  Lydd,  Kent. 
Its  explosive  force  may  be  judged  from  Omdurman, 
when  one  shell,  penetrating  a  hard  clay  bank,  ex- 
ploded and  blew  its  base  over  the  heads  of  the  firing 
battery,  3,000  yards  distant.  In  the  present  conflict 
it  has  neither  upheld  nor  disproved  its  reputation. 
The  shock  of  explosion  is  said  to  kill  at  a  radius  of 
forty  yards,  but  the  Boers  declare  it  a  harmless  explo- 
sive. Since  they  have  chiefly  experienced  it  against 
their  bombproofs,  and  the  thousands  of  shell  that 
they  hurled  into  Ladysmith  produced  such  slight 
loss,  the  rough  statistics  gathered  from  prisoners 
show  that  its  effect  is  at  least  threefold  greater  than 
that  of  their  melenite. 

Half  a  century  ago  a  French  chemist  found  that 
cotton  wool  treated  with  nitric  acid  was  inflammable 
to  an  extent  that  ranged  its  force  with  gunpowder, 
suddenly  developing  a  volume  of  gas,  combustible  in 
the  presence  of  oxygen.  Few  thought  that  this 
discovery  would  revolutionize  warfare.  It  was  many 
years  before  the  tremendous  advantages  of  a  slow- 
burning  explosive  were  recognized,  but  finally  from 

263 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

gun-cotton  and  nitro-glycerine  mutual  solvents  have 
been  found,  producing  cordite,  melenite  or  lyddite, 
all  of  which  obviate  the  fibre  and  clogging  of  gun- 
cotton.  In  the  two  latter,  however,  used  mainly  for 
bursting,  not  impelling  charges,  pure  carbolic  acid  is 
treated  with  nitric  acid,  picric  acid  being  the  result. 
This  can  be  poured  into  the  shell  in  liquid  form  and 
has  none  of  the  risks  of  dynamite  in  exploding  with 
the  shock  of  discharge.  It  is  detonated  by  fulminate 
of  mercury  and  picric  powder,  one  acting  on  the 
other,  and  thus  on  soft  ground  the  shells  are  liable 
not  to  explode. 

Reverse  at  every  point  aroused  the  complacent 
British  public  to  the  magnitude  of  the  operations  in 
South  Africa.  The  Little  Englanders  and  the  "agin 
the  governments "  of  all  denominations  who  had 
charged  Mr.  Chamberlain  with  inciting  the  war  now 
found  it  necessary  to  alter  their  tactics.^  The  govern- 
ment that  they  had  charged  with  undue  belligerence 
was  now  arraigned  with  lack  of  preparation  for  war. 
But  the  nation,  which  has  cried  out  if  the  army  esti- 
mates were  excessive,  not  the  government,  was  to 
blame  for  the  shortcomings  that  would  have  been  far 
greater  in   any   other   country,    Germany  excepted. 

1  Most  of  the  shortcomings  were  unavoidable  in  a  great  mobiliza- 
tion where  only  a  small  standing  army  is  maintained.  The  blatant 
criticism  from  the  ex-Secretary  of  War  was  in  specially  bad  taste, 
since  his  niggardly  policy  when  in  oflSce  was  notorious,  and  even 
smokeless  powder  was  not  of  his  mind.  The  country  should  con- 
gratulate itself  that  his  party  was  not  in  power. 

264 


Dutch  have  Cost  England  Dearly 

And  leaving  recrimination  to  petty  politicians,  the 
people,  shouldered  the  responsibility,  providing  money 
and  men  to  press  the  war  to  the  end. 

Reverse  was  salutary  for  the  arrogance  of  national 
spirit,  strengthened  in  the  British  race  by  their  power 
and  progress.  Illogical  patriotism  is  a  fault  of 
Americans  and  British,  as  well  as  of  less  favored 
nations.  National  histories  are  too  apt  to  minimize 
defects,  obscure  defeats,  and  glorify  successes  beyond 
proportion.  Centuries  of  success  in  warfare  account 
for  British  pride;  but  insular  prejudice,  common  in 
the  Englishman,  causes  a  universal  dislike. 

In  history  the  Dutch  have  cost  England  dearly, 
and  blood  will  tell,  even  if  it  is  mixed  and  traits  are 
perverted.  But  since  vast  resources  must  eventually 
win,  let  us  give  glory  to  Kruger  for  two  things,  — 
uniting  the  vast  British  empire  and  teaching  British 
pride  a  salutary  lesson.  Assumption  of  invincibility 
begotten  by  victories  of  the  past  is  liable  to  foster  a 
self-complacency  of  the  present  that  is  dangerous. 
Armaments  must  be  adapted  to  foreign  policy,  or  the 
policy  to  the  armaments,  and  the  country  has  lived 
too  long  on  Trafalgar  and  Waterloo. 

Like  the  North  in  the  Civil  War,  the  British  com- 
menced by  underrating  their  opponents  and  the  task 
before  them.  Bad  practice  in  war  is  worse  than 
none,  and  successive  campaigns  of  civilization  against 
savages  taught  British  officers  much  that  they  have 
unlearned    in  South  Africa.      Fortunately,  Anglo- 

265 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Saxon  level-headedness  came  to  the  rescue  in  the 
hour  of  trouble;  and  where  Latin  races  would  have 
overthrown  the  ministry,  the  British  took  Lincoln's 
advice  and  did  not  "swap  horses  when  crossing  the 
stream,"  only  augmenting  the  leadership  of  the  army 
to  make  it  commensurate  with  the  increase  of 
strength. 

Ere  the  stop-press  insertions  in  the  lightning  extras 
were  printed  announcing  BuUer's  defeat,  the  Cabinet 
was  in  session,  orders  had  been  issued  for  the  sixth 
division  to  start  at  once,  and  the  remaining  reserve 
was  called  up.  Five  hours  after  the  official  despatch 
was  received,  the  calls  for  mobilization  were  speed- 
ing over  the  wires,  and  troops  were  equipped,  pro- 
visioned, and  embarking  ere  the  week  closed. 

Now  the  war  touched  home.  Roberts  and  Kitch- 
ener, popular  idols,  were  to  direct,  and  the  great 
cities,  towns,  and  countryside  gave  up  their  youth 
and  manhood  for  the  reserve,  militia,  and  auxiliary 
forces.  The  volunteers  left  the  counting-house  and 
counter  to  form  the  selected  contingents  from  the 
auxiliaries,  enrolled  only  for  home  defence  but  rally- 
ing readily  for  foreign  service.  The  Yeomanry 
(volunteer  cavalry)  responded  with  like  alacrity,  and 
the  farm-helps  relinquished  the  plough  for  the  rifle, 
swelling  the  militia  establishment  until  every  bat- 
talion was  over  strength  and  besieged  with  appli- 
cants. And  every  London  police  court  was  filled  with 
deserters,  many  of  long  standing,  surrendering  to  face 

266 


The  Parting 

the  long  averted  punishment,  only  to  be  with  the  old 
regiment  on  active  service. 

The  regular  army,  if  not  at  war,  is  on  foreign  ser- 
vice, and  the  soldiers'  friends  and  families  are  used  to 
parting:  regulars  are  paid  to  fight,  they  are  "absent- 
minded  beggars,"  1  with  whom  sentiment  is  not 
allowed.  But  the  conservative  British  public  was 
now  called  upon  to  give  up  its  sons ;  the  honor  of  the 
country  was  at  stake.  War  no  longer  meant  paying 
men  12  pence  per  day  to  do  the  fighting ;  it  entailed 
giving  up  some  near  and  dear  one,  a  break  in  the 
sacred  home  circle.  Yet  nobly  did  the  women  of 
England  answer  the  call.  After  all,  women  rule  the 
world,  for  what  man  went  off  to  fight  but  through  or 
for  "her"? 

Responsible  political  parties  were  now  united,  and 
even  dear  old  Ireland  imbibed  the  enthusiasm,  to  the 
chagrin  of  the  New  York  intransigents.  The  gal- 
lantry of  her  sons  at  the  front  stirred  their  warm 
hearts,  and  while  frothy  spellbinders  waved  Boer  flags 
and  raised  counter  demonstrations,  Ireland  forgot  past 
wrongs  for  the  nonce  and  shared  in  the  pride  and  fear 
for  the  empire  of  which  she  is  an  integral  part,  and 
to  which  she  has  contributed  so  many  soldiers. 

Ireland  disloyal  ?  —  and  for  the  Boers  ?  I  can  only 
turn  you  to  the  subscription  lists  as  they  stood  in  the 
war's  infancy.    The  "  Irish  Times'  "  fund  for  soldiers' 

1  An  army  sobriquet  immortalized,  but  not  originated,  by  Mr. 
Kipling. 

267 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

widows  stood  at  £9,307  a  few  days  after  opening; 
Lady  Roberts'  appeal  to  the  Irish  netted  £6,038  for 
soldiers'  families,  in  as  short  a  time;  and  strenuous 
endeavor  by  the  Irish  Nationalist  Transvaal  Aid 
Committee  collected  £83  from  three  million  national- 
ists in  a  whole  month.  Reverse,  I  hear,  increased 
the  disparity.  The  war  with  Spain  united  North  and 
South,  and  to-day  the  British  empire  stands  unified 
as  never  before. 

In  the  Travellers'  Club,  members  were  crowding 
round  the  ticker  as  the  sparse  items  from  Colenso 
filtered  in  and  were  read  aloud  by  the  nearest  mem- 
bers. Most  had  some  relative  or  friend  at  the  front, 
and  in  their  eagerness  few  noticed  the  hero  of  Kan- 
dahar. A  meagre  account  of  BuUer's  lost  guns  — 
"  heroism  of  the  officers  —  the  sufferings  of  Lieutenant 
Roberts,  recommended  for  the  V.C.,  but  gone  beyond 
earthly  honors.  —  Then  they  noticed  the  quiet,  well- 
knit  figure  standing  in  their  midst.  "Bobs"  aged 
twenty  years  in  as  many  seconds.  Every  head  was 
bared  in  an  instant,  but  none  could  speak.  Quietly 
the  old  soldier  stood  to  the  bitter  end,  a  tinge  of  pride 
illuminating  the  ashy  gray  hue  of  grief  as  he  heard 
how  his  boy  had  died.  Then  he  gravely  saluted,  and 
turned  to  break  the  news  to  the  wife  and  helpmeet 
of  forty-one  years  of  peace  and  war. 

A  true  soldier  usually  makes  a  devoted  husband ; 
the  opinions  of  those  who  know  not  army  life  not- 
withstanding.   "  To  the  country  to  which  I  am  proud 

268 


Lord  and  Lady  Roberts 

of  belonging,  to  the  army  to  which  I  am  so  deeply 
indebted,  and  to  the  wife  without  whose  loving  help 
my  forty -one  years  in  India  could  not  be  the  happy 
retrospect  it  is,"  writes  Lord  Roberts  in  the  dedica- 
tion of  his  greatest  work.  And  from  the  day  that  the 
young  hero  of  the  Sepoy  Mutiny  recuperating  from 
his  wounds  met  Miss  Nora  Bews  of  Waterford,  the 
soldier  and  his  wife  have  been  inseparable.  Aligarh, 
Lahore,  Bombay,  Waterford,  and  Portsmouth  are  but 
points  on  the  long  routes  that  sing  their  praise. 

"  My  desire  to  have  him  near  me  must  never  stand 
in  his  way,"  said  the  young  wife  to  Lord  Clyde  ere 
the  honeymoon  was  over,  when  Hope  Grant  had  been 
"considerately  "  selected  for  China  in  "Bobs'  "  stead. 
And  from  that  day  they  have  shared  hardships  and 
perils  together,  until  to-day  Lady  Roberts  and  her 
daughter  are  nursing  wounded  near  the  firing  line, 
following  the  general  closely  to  the  front.  Would 
that  I  had  the  space  to  tell  more  of  their  life  from 
early  Waterford  days  to  Bloemfontein.  The  death  of 
their  first-born  at  Simla,  the  care  of  the  soldier  for 
his  stricken  wife,  camped  alone  in  the  wildest  coun- 
try, the  death  of  their  second  child  on  shipboard,  the 
attempted  murder  of  the  baby  boy  by  his  Hindoo 
nurse,  whom  destiny  foiled  to  provide  posterity  with 
the  Colenso  hero  —  all  these  are  episodes  in  their 
eventful  career.  Of  "  Bobs'  "  military  glory  you 
know,  and  he  is  going  far  to  prove  his  ability  to  rank 
with  the  greatest  generals  of  serious  wars. 

269 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

With  Lord  Roberts  in  command,  the  conqueror  of 
the  Soudan,  with  his  vast  administrative  ability,  made 
an  ideal  chief  of  staff,  and  for  rank  and  file  no  more 
popular  men  could  have  been  selected  to  level  "  old 
Krewjer  "  and  his  "Paulies,"  as  Tommy  dubbed  the 
Boers.  Their  confidence  in  Buller  was  unbounded, 
but  Kipling  has  not  exaggerated  their  love  for 
"Bobs."  He  is  their  idol,  and  they  rejoiced  exceed- 
ingly when  the  general,  who  had  landed  in  1881  to 
uphold  the  British  flag,  only  to  find  a  mistaken  mag- 
nanimity had  forestalled  him,  was  selected  to  under- 
take the  task  that  he  prophesied  would  be  necessary 
when  the  halt  was  called  nineteen  years  before. 

The  failure  to  force  the  Tugela  had  but  whetted 
the  appetite  of  the  army  for  fighting  and  stiffened  a 
determination  for  victory.  The  combination  of  races 
in  the  regiments  and  the  empire  is  a  happy  one.  The 
fiery  impetuosity  of  the  Irish,  fully  restrained  by  dis- 
cipline but  always  available  when  necessary,  the  dash 
of  the  Scotch  combined  with  their  unusual  staying 
powers,  the  cool  patience  of  the  plucky  Welsh,  and 
the  stolid  perseverance  "  never-be-beat "  qualities  of 
the  English,  make  an  effective  combination. 

Many  of  the  Boers  expected  that  the  British  would 
desist  after  Colenso.  "Chamberlain  has  had  his 
Majuba,  and  will  now  cry  for  peace,"  said  well 
informed  leaders  to  their  prisoners  of  war.  General 
Joubert  returned  to  the  front  on  the  18th  to  find  the 

270 


Christmas  Day 

fighting  resolved  to  affairs  of  outposts,  and  the  bri- 
gades withdrawn  to  Frere.  On  the  20th  a  Hussar 
patrol  was  ambushed  as  far  south  as  Weenen,  and 
surrounded,  cutting  its  way  out  with  loss.  The  Colo- 
nials were  rapidly  on  the  scene,  the  Boers  retiring  on 
their  approach,  just  before  dark.  Instead  of  return- 
ing to  camp,  the  Colonials  bivouacked,  hiding  in  the 
kopjes  at  sunrise.  A  force  of  Boers  soon  returned, 
making  an  eager  race  to  secure  the  clothes  and 
equipment  of  the  dead  Hussars.  While  the  burghers 
were  stripping  the  dead  and  quarrelling  over  the 
spoils,  the  Colonials  swooped  down  on  them,  killing 
and  capturing  some  and  dispersing  the  rest. 

Christmas  day  was  observed  by  an  informal  truce  at 
Colenso,  but  the  ringing  of  the  church  bells  in  Lady- 
smith,  announcing  the  era  of  "peace  on  earth  and 
good-will  to  man,"  was  the  signal  for  a  terrific  bom- 
bardment by  the  Boers,  the  Town  Hall  Hospital,  as 
usual,  being  the  target.  The  beleaguered  garrison 
had  little  cheer  for  feasting,  but  the  relieving  column 
tried  to  forget  recent  losses,  and  made  exceeding  merry 
on  camp  fare. 

The  naval  detachment  was  first  awake,  and  enliv- 
ened the  camp  with  the  Yuletide  chorus,  "  God  rest 
ye,  merrie  gentlemen,"  that  made  many  a  soldier  pause 
'twixt  sleeping  and  waking,  to  prolong  the  dream  of 
past  festivals  at  home  with  waits,  carols,  and  the 
family  reunion,  ere  they  roused  to  face  the  realities 
of  war  and  the  thermometer. 

271 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Many  a  home  o'er  the  sea  had  a  vacant  chair. 
Some  of  the  absent  ones  were  sleeping  beside  the 
Tugela^  the  others  thought  sadly  of  the  home  circles 
many  were  destined  never  again  to  see.  Ah,  aching 
hearts  of  mothers,  wives,  and  sisters!  It  is  hard 
consolation  that  your  dear  ones  gave  their  lives  in 
sustaining  reverse.  Yet  those  brave  young  lives  were 
not  uselessly  expended ;  and  remember  that  they  died 
bravely,  fighting  as  they  retired  even  as  they  had 
fought  to  advance.  Their  lives  were  not  in  vain, 
little  as  the  battle  gained. 

And  you,  stricken  Boer  women!  They  tell  us 
that  your  feelings  are  not  deep,  that  you  widows 
soon  take  new  husbands,  and  sweethearts  new  beaux. 
But  if  you  have  your  failings,  can  they  tell  us  that 
a  mother  yearns  not  for  her  son,  or  a  wife  for  her 
husband  ?  The  finer  feelings  of  life  may  be  blunted 
by  environment,  but  can  that  change  a  woman's 
heart?  May  the  God  you  worship  sustain  you  in 
your  hour  of  trial.  Your  loved  ones  have  died 
fighting  for  the  cause  they  believed  just— sacrificed 
by  a  misunderstanding  fostered  and  made  an  open 
breach  by  whited  sepulchres  among  you  whom  the 
Almighty  will  judge.  They  have  called  upon  Him 
recklessly.  Let  Him  be  arbiter;  but  if  you  find  in 
a  happier  era  that  your  leaders  and  their  aliens  have 
misled  you,  think  not  that  their  wrongs  sully  the  honor 
of  your  humble  dead,  for  they  fought  for  high  ideals 
—  duty  and  country  —  and  will  be  held  guiltless. 

272 


Christmas  Dinner 

The  gloom  of  homesickness,  which  so  easily  de- 
velops into  a  dangerous  nostalgia,  was  soon  dispelled 
in  the  camps  on  Christmas  day.  A  military  tourna- 
ment for  all  arms  was  arranged  by  the  officers,  and  of 
course  Jack  had  a  mule  race,  though  why  the  two 
enjoy  an  incongruous  affinity  no  one  can  tell.  The 
sailors'  discipline  was  the  more  relaxed,  and  they 
rigged  an  international  procession  for  the  edification 
of  "Tommy,"  in  which  Kruger,  John  Bull,  and 
"Rule  Britannia"  were  to  the  fore. 

Then  came  the  Christmas  dinner.  The  tons  of 
supplies  despatched  by  absent  friends  had  not  arrived, 
but  the  officers  arranged  for  beer  for  their  men,  extras 
from  the  commissariat  were  lavishly  issued,  some  fine 
fat  oxen  were  captured  from  the  Boers,  and  the 
veteran  correspondent,  Bennet  Burleigh,  carted  up 
cake,  tobacco,  cigars,  and  cigarettes  ad  lib.,  and 
arranged  a  camp  fire  for  all  hands,  the  day  being 
closed  with  topical  songs,  chiefly  referring  to  good 
things  in  store  for  Uncle  Paul,  —  "  When  next  we 
travel  to  the  Cape,  by  gum !  we  '11  go  via  Cairo" 
making  a  great  hit. 

Then  ensued  days  of  quiet.  Picket  firing  and 
skirmishes  on  the  flanks  closed  up  the  old  year,  —  I 
was  tempted  to  say  the  century,  but  't  is  a  disputed 
point.  The  Boers  announced  1900  to  Ladysmith 
with  a  terrific  bombardment,  to  celebrate  Hogmanay 
and  the  anniversary  of  that  hour,  four  years  before, 
when  Dr.  Jameson  marred  the  peace  of  South  Africa. 
18  273 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

Reinforcements  were  coming  to  BuUer.  General 
Warren,  the  Free  State's  friend,  whom  past  experi- 
ence in  the  country  made  a  useful  ally,  brought  a 
division.  Howitzers  made  their  tardy  appearance, 
and  field  batteries  replaced  the  lost  guns  and  strength- 
ened the  arm.  The  Boers  felt  round  the  flanks  at 
Frere  and  were  thrice  punished  for  their  temerity. 
Then  an  unexpected  flood  of  the  Tugela  isolated  all 
on  the  south  bank,  and  many  were  rounded  up.  The 
force  at  Hlangwane  should  then  have  been  rapidly 
attacked.  The  bridge  they  had  rigged  was  swept 
away,  and  a  Roosevelt  would  have  "clipped  in,"  and 
perhaps  succeeded  in  inflicting  a  salutary  lesson. 
But  elaborate  operations  were  planned,  and  the  river 
fell  before  execution. 

Botha  continued  to  strengthen  his  position,  laying 
a  light  tramway,  so  that  his  guns  could  be  rapidly 
concentrated  at  desired  points,  and  constructing  bomb- 
proof alleys  leading  from  trenches,  in  which  a  horse- 
man could  ride  in  perfect  safety.  At  Ladysmith  the 
Boers  were  forming  a  colossal  dam  across  the  Klip, 
that  it  might  overflow  and  flood  Ladysmith.  They 
perhaps  overlooked  the  fact  that  such  a  flood  would 
have  swept  away  the  sick  and  neutral  camp  at 
Intombi.  Such  a  course  would  have  outrivalled 
MacMahon's  plan  to  burn  out  the  Prussian  skirmish- 
ers and  sharpshooters  from  the  woods  at  Weissenburg. 
Napoleon  then  refused  permission,  on  humanitarian 
grounds,  and  lost  hundreds  of  men  thereby ;  and  it  is 

274 


Arrival  of  Blacks  in  Camp 

a  pity  that  Joubert,  who  gained  universal  esteem  of 
friend  and  foe,  lent  himself  to  this  plan  which  he  at 
first  opposed.  Fortunately  the  dam  was  built  slowly; 
the  impressed  Kaffirs  constantly  deserting  from  Boer 
lashes  to  the  English  lines,  where  they  had  free 
rations  and  were  unmolested,  —  and  Ladysmith  was 
relieved  just  before  its  completion. 

Hundreds  of  blacks  who  escaped  from  the  enemy 
arrived  in  camp  with  their  backs  wealed  to  the  bone 
by  sjamboks.  The  unfortunate  Natal  natives  were 
forbidden  by  the  government  to  take  up  arms  in  their 
own  defence,  and  then  found  their  mealies  and  cattle 
looted  by  the  invaders,  and  themselves  impressed  to 
labor  day  and  night  while  their  unfortunate  wives  and 
children  starved.  There  is  a  terrible  story  also  of 
violation  of  their  girls ;  but  mercenaries  and  dissolute 
young  burghers  were  to  blame  for  this,  and  it  should 
not  be  laid  to  the  Boers,  though  their  exegesis  al- 
lowed such  things.  I  have  heard  the  charge  of  official 
cruelty  by  the  British  to  the  blacks.  But  I  have  seen 
much  of  British  administration  of  black  and  brown 
men,  from  chicken-hearted  rice-eaters  to  West  Afri- 
can cannibals.  The  uncivilized  black  should  not  be 
treated  like  a  pampered  child,  but  I  have  always 
found  that  the  British  government  errs  in  that  direc- 
tion ;  and  white  men  who  treat  a  native  severely  find 
to  their  cost  that  all  are  equal  under  the  law,  and  an 
unlawful  killing  means  a  lawful  hanging,  —  eye  for 
eye,  tooth  for  tooth. 

276 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

The  natural  elation  of  the  Boers  over  their  stupen- 
dous victories  led  them  to  formulate  plans  for  peace, 
which  revealed  their  colossal  ignorance  of  British 
spirit  and  resource.  The  cession  of  Natal  and  Kim- 
berley  and  an  indemnity  of  $100,000,000  did  not  seem 
preposterous  terms  after  three  reverses  and  the  fall  of 
Mafeking  and  Ladysmith,  which  was  now  assured. 

The  peace  conditions  were  prepared  and  only  waited 
for  the  final  acts  in  the  British  tragedy.  To  expedite 
these,  the  bulk  of  the  forces  were  withdrawn  from 
Colenso,  where  the  flooded  river  held  Buller,  and 
concentrated  to  storm  Ladysmith.  Matt  Steyn,  the 
President's  brother,  and  several  Free  Staters,  de- 
clared, however,  that  it  needed  a  Colenso  to  rouse 
the  British,  and  Ladysmith's  fall  would  only  start  the 
war;  and  while  the  Transvaalers  were  predicting 
speedy  triumph,  he  and  a  number  of  his  compatriots 
demanded  leave  to  tend  their  crops  and  thus  prolong 
supplies.  Thirty  of  them  deserted  to  the  British 
lines. 

In  a  driving  rain  at  two  A.M.,  January  6th,  four 
columns  of  Boers  crept  up  against  the  Ladysmith 
defences.  White's  garrison  was  decimated  with 
fever,  and  since  they  had  to  hold  a  perimeter  of  over 
thirteen  miles,  outposts  could  not  be  strongly  sus- 
tained at  any  one  point.  The  enemy  had  quickly 
detected  the  weak  spot  in  the  encircling  defences. 
Caesar's  camp,  a  broad  plateau  800  feet  above  Lady- 
smith, guarded   the  south  side  of  the  town.     This 

276 


Boers  Crawl  up  Wagon  Hill 

eminence  had  proved  easy  to  defend,  but  on  its 
western  end  it  merged  after  a  depression  into  a  lower 
position,  Wagon  Hill,  the  connecting  nek  and  dry 
water-courses  making  possible  breaches  in  the  British 
line. 

The  Boers  first  waded  up  Fourier's  Spruit,  and 
dividing  in  two  parties  started  to  crawl  up  each 
side  of  Wagon  Hill.  The  outlying  pickets,  composed 
of  Colonials,  challenged  the  Boers,  but  receiving 
the  reply  "  Town  Guard  "  in  perfect  English,  they 
allowed  them  to  advance  close,  and  were  knocked 
down  with  clubbed  rifles  and  killed  ere  they  could 
give  the  alarm.  Lieutenant  Mathias  of  the  Light 
Horse,  walking  down  to  visit  his  guards,  suddenly 
found  himself  among  the  enemy,  but  he  coolly  turned 
and  crept  upward  with  them,  unnoticed,  springing  in 
the  lead  on  the  summit  and  giving  the  alarm. 
Shouting  to  the  guards  to  turn  out,  he  sprang  to  the 
head  of  his  detachment.  He  was  joined  by  a  working 
party  of  sappers  that  were  fortunately  constructing  a 
gun  pit  in  the  darkness,  to  strengthen  the  very  point 
of  assault.  But  this  little  party  was  assailed  on  both 
flanks  and  swept  back  over  the  ridge. 

The  Heidelberg  commando  under  Van  Wyk  and 
the  Harrismith  Free  Staters  under  De  Villiers  formed 
this  forlorn  hope  which  had  penetrated  the  British 
lines.  The  main  force  was  to  hurl  itself  into  the 
breach  at  dawn.  But  the  pickets  resisted  the  Free 
Staters'  assault  stoutly ;  the  expelled  outposts  rallied, 

277 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

and  the  enemy  found  their  advance  along  the  nek 
to  take  Caesar's  camp  in  flank  was  stoutly  opposed  by 
less  than  thirty  men.  Young  MacNaghten  of  the 
Scots  led  this  sorry  handful  to  the  crest,  where  a 
squadron  of  Light  Horse  was  surrounded  in  a  sangar, 
and  only  shared  in  their  annihilation,  the  Boers  tem- 
porarily obtaining  Wagon  Hill.  It  was  soon  evident 
that  the  assault  was  more  than  an  affair  of  outposts, 
and  reinforcements  were  hurried  out  ere  the  sun  rose. 

The  Boers  then  retired  to  the  cover  of  the  outer 
crest,  and  reversed  the  use  of  the  empty  sangars.  The 
British  clung  to  the  inner  crest,  sheltered  by  boul- 
ders and  depressions.  A  space  of  twenty-five  yards 
divided  the  two  forces.  The  Light  Horse  clung  to  a 
rocky  position  rising  on  the  nek,  and  poured  in  a  cross 
fire;  but  they  suffered  very  severely  and  changed 
commanding  officers  seven  times  during  the  day. 
Their  officers  were  practically  wiped  out.  Lord  Ava 
galloped  along  the  line  to  find  a  point  from  which  the 
spruit  could  be  covered,  along  which  Boer  reinforce- 
ments were  pouring.  He  was  instantly  killed.  The 
burghers  then  attempted  to  rush  round  the  flank,  but 
they  were  met  by  seven  troopers,  who  were  shot  to 
pieces  but  held  on  long  enough  for  reinforcements  to 
arrive,  and  did  not  vainly  sacrifice  themselves. 

Thrice  detachments  tried  to  sweep  across  the  open 
to  sustain  the  hardly-pressed  Light  Horse ;  for  with 
Boers  in  their  position  the  entire  hill  would  be  enfil- 
aded and  untenable.     Major  Mackworth,  then  Cap- 

278 


Boers  Driven  Back 

tain  Codrington,  and  finally  Lieutenant  Todd,  led 
these  rushes,  and  in  each  case  the  officers  were  killed 
with  most  of  their  men. 

A  mile  away  on  the  other  flank  the  Heidelberg 
commando  had  surprised  Hunt-Grubbe  and  the  outly- 
ing pickets,  wiping  out  the  outposts  resting  in  the 
first  line  of  defences.  But  on  a  narrow  portion  of  the 
ridge  sixteen  of  the  Manchester  regiment,  without  an 
officer,  clung  to  a  narrow  trench  and  fought  to  the 
end.  Boers  crawled  up  on  either  side  of  this  isolated 
force  and  poured  in  volleys  the  entire  day,  shouting 
at  intervals  to  the  survivors  to  surrender.  A  con- 
tinual but  diminishing  fire  was  their  answer,  and  after 
fifteen  long  hours'  continuous  resistance  relief  came 
and  the  Boers  were  driven  back.  As  the  Devons 
with  fixed  bayonets  cleared  the  enemy  from  the  hill 
at  sunset,  they  heard  the  regular  cracking  of  two  Lee 
Metfords  easily  discernible  from  the  Mausers.  In 
the  trench  where  the  picket  had  been  surrounded 
fourteen  lay  dead,  some  killed  after  many  wounds. 
And  of  the  two  survivors,  one  sorely  wounded  loaded 
the  rifles  as  he  lay  on  the  ground,  handing  them  to 
the  other  as  he  fired  in  quick  succession.  The  latter 
powder-grimed  hero  coolly  saluted,  reported  his 
picket  to  the  relieving  officer,  and  fell  senseless  from 
exhaustion. 

Reinforcements  were  urgently  needed  at  both  places 
early  in  the  day,  but  at  9  a.m.  commandoes  were 
seen  hovering  on  the  Helpmaaker  road  and  before 

279 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

Observation  Hill,  and  their  diversion  prevented  con- 
centration at  the  assailed  points. 

By  10,  however,  the  Boer  fire  had  dwindled,  and 
the  burghers  fell  back  to  cover  in  the  bush  and  behind 
rocks.  Every  inch  of  the  assailed  positions  was  then 
searched  by  a  terrific  shell  fire,  against  which  the 
British  field  batteries  could  not  reply  until  they  were 
advanced  into  the  open,  where  they  put  in  splendid 
practice. 

Beyond  Intombi,  at  midday,  swarms  of  horsemen 
appeared  in  full  view,  riding  fearlessly  in  the  open, 
for  their  advance  was  screened  by  the  women  in  the 
neutral  camp,  and  the  hospital  tents  upon  which  the 
British  could  not  fire.  Leisurely  dismounting,  they 
disappeared  like  rabbits  among  the  rocks,  and  began  to 
stalk  their  way  in,  the  movement  of  the  mimosa,  or  a 
glimpse  of  a  ragged  coat  scuttling  behind  a  boulder, 
being  the  only  indications  of  their  advance  in  Zulu 
tactics. 

Taking  what  cover  they  could,  the  soldiers  fired 
when  they  saw  a  head,  and  were  shot  when  they 
exposed  themselves  above  the  ridge.  Then  suddenly 
from  a  tiny  watercourse  hidden  by  rocks,  some  one 
descried  a  force  of  the  enemy  creeping  close  to  the 
summit.  As  the  alarm  was  given,  De  Villiers  and 
a  picked  force  of  desperate  burghers  leaped  into  a  gun 
pit  and  swarmed  over  the  ridge,  firing  as  they  ad- 
vanced, the  tired  troops  falling  back  rapidly.  Many 
were  trying  to  lunch  under  fire  when  surprised,  and 

280 


"  Run,  Brothers  ! " 

the  confusion  amounted  to  panic.  But  as  the  troops 
broke  and  retired,  Major  Wallnutt  rallied  a  few  men 
and  held  to  the  crest.  De  Villiers  blew  the  Major's 
brains  out  with  his  own  hand,  his  men  were  swept 
away,  and  the  victorious  Boers  were  rushing  forward, 
when  Lieutenant  Digby  Jones  and  six  sappers  sprang 
from  the  gun  pit  and  resumed  the  fight.  De  Villiers 
killed  Jones  and  fell  mortally  wounded  himself;  the 
sappers  clung  to  the  rocks  and  kept  the  Boers  at  bay 
until  reinforcements  came,  and  the  ridge  was  saved, 
Lieutenant  Dennis,  Jones'  mess  chum,  being  killed  as 
he  bent  over  the  body  of  his  friend. 

A  burgher  now  appeared  walking  slowly  to  the 
ridge  with  a  white  flag.  The  firing  ceased,  the  men 
keeping  well  to  cover  to  avoid  treachery.  But  the 
Light  Horse  on  their  eminence  could  see  the  trick, 
for  as  he  advanced  a  line  of  burghers  squirmed  like 
snakes  through  the  brush  on  the  hillside  and  would 
have  swept  over  the  crest  but  for  this  timely  discov- 
ery. The  "  truce  bearer, "  shouting,  "  Run,  brothers !  " 
dropped  his  flag  and  fled,  and  heavy  volleys  drove  the 
treacherous  foe  to  their  lines.  Later  two  wounded 
prisoners  of  war  were  brought  forward  and  deliber- 
ately placed  as  a  screen  by  three  Boers,  who  stood  up 
and  shot  at  leisure.  A  Light  Horse  sharpshooter 
crawled  forward  and  disposed  of  two  of  them;  but 
the  third  was  more  difficult,  and  shots  from  other 
quarters,  ere  they  brought  down  their  man,  riddled 
the  wounded,  killing  one,  though  the  other  was  res- 

281 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

cued  alive  with  six  bullets,  British  and  Boer,  in  him. 
Though  paralyzed,  he  stands  a  chance  of  recovery. 

The  Devons  now  arrived  on  the  scene,  after  a  long 
march  from  a  distant  outpost.  Fixing  bayonets,  they 
swept  through  the  battered  lines  of  defenders  and 
cleared  the  Boers  from  the  side  of  Caesar's  camp, 
losing  very  heavily,  however.  The  Gordons  also 
advanced  on  the  eastern  slope,  having  lost  their 
leader,  Colonel  Dick-Cunyngham,  V.C,  early  in  the 
day  and  being  eager  for  revenge.  Thus  again  the 
defences  were  cleared. 

But  the  enemy  swarmed  among  the  rocks  and 
woods  at  the  foot  of  the  position,  and  shot  off  those 
who  showed  themselves  on  the  crest.  A  frightful 
thunderstorm  burst  in  the  late  afternoon,  and  the 
lashing  rain  proved  the  cover  for  the  last  Boer  ad- 
vance. Water  courses  and  rocks  were  not  needed 
now.  It  was  nearly  dark,  the  rain  masked  their 
advance  to  close  quarters,  when  they  swarmed  in 
hundreds  over  the  hill,  yelling  "  Majuba !  " 

Never  made  they  greater  mistake  than  to  thus  at- 
tack in  the  open.  Troops  who  are  wary  to  charge  in 
face  of  the  potting  of  a  lurking  foe  are  brave  as  lions 
when  facing  a  disclosed  enemy.  With  a  hoarse  cry 
and  fixed  bayonets  the  British  dashed  forward.  In 
distinct  crashes  were  the  magazines  emptied  —  then 
they  plunged  in  with  cold  steel.  The  burghers,  cry- 
ing for  mercy,  retreated  like  a  stampeded  herd. 

The  spruits  lay  before  them,  but  the  storm  had 
282 


British  Charge  with  Fixed  Bayonets 

swelled  streamlets  into  turbid  floods.  Before  the 
rushing  line  of  steel  they  were  forced  into  the  seeth- 
ing waters,  many  being  swept  away.  Those  who 
gained  a  crossing  were  pursued  with  rifle  fire  back  to 
their  hills,  the  field  batteries  harrying  them  when 
infantry  were  outranged.  The  diversions  against 
the  northern  positions  and  Helpmaaker  road  tried 
to  press  in  but  were  rapidly  repulsed. 

Seldom  has  modern  history  recorded  a  more  pro- 
longed or  desperate  duel  between  two  bodies  of  reso- 
lute men.  Boer  gallantry  was  never  more  evinced 
than  on  this  day,  though  they  outnumbered  the  Brit- 
ish ;  and  one  can  only  regret  the  universal  treachery 
they  exhibited  and  which  is  beneath  such  brave 
men.  The  British  loss  was  43  officers  and  320  men ; 
the  Boer  loss,  for  once  in  the  war,  was  the  heavier, 
and  132  bodies  were  collected  on  the  hills  alone.  Of 
the  engaged  regiments  the  casualties  of  the  Imperial 
Light  Horse  were  four-fifths  of  their  entire  strength, 
98  men  answering  roll-call  that  night.  It  has  been 
stated  that  the  Uitlanders  were  scheming  cowards, 
unwilling  to  strike  a  blow  for  their  own  redemption. 
The  incessant  gallantry  of  this  Uitlander  corps, 
throughout  the  war  on  their  behalf,  belies  the  cal- 
umny; they  were  fighting  for  their  liberty,  homes, 
and  property  in  the  country  of  their  adoption. 

Thoroughly  disheartened,  the  Boers  returned  to 
their  positions  along  the  Tugela  and  resumed  the  in- 
vestment of  Ladysmith.     White,  during  a  brief  spell 

283 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

of  sunshine,  had  managed  to  heliograph  Buller  that 
he  was  hard  pressed.  The  mounted  troops  and 
advanced  infantry  brigades  at  once  made  a  demon- 
stration at  Colenso  to  relieve  the  pressure.  But  for 
the  Tugela  flood  a  successful  assault  might  then  have 
been  delivered,  as  many  guils  and  the  bulk  of  the 
forces  had  been  taken  to  Ladysmith.  The  guards 
left  in  the  positions  were  lounging  in  clear  view, 
and  were  severely  mauled  by  the  field  batteries  ere 
they  could  get  to  cover.  Gallopers  were  then  de- 
spatched to  recall  the  absent  forces,  but  they  were 
too  engrossed  in  assaulting  the  city,  and  it  was  an 
unfortunate  combination  of  circumstances  that  Bul- 
ler was  not  prepared  with  pontoons  to  force  a 
passage. 

Joubert  now  reoccupied  his  position  on  the  Tugela 
in  full  force  and  strengthened  the  defences  at  every 
point.  Along  twenty-one  miles  of  natural  fortifica- 
tions the  Boer  front  extended.  A  kopje  is  prac- 
tically a  vast  stone  heap :  the  boulders  have  only  to 
be  piled  up  as  required,  and  it  is  a  jagged  fortress : 
the  mountainous  kops  are  Titanic  editions  of  the 
same.  Burghers  and  impressed  natives  slaved  night 
and  day,  building  gun  pits  and  epaulments  with 
prodigious  bombproofs,  which  negatived  the  possi- 
bility of  effective  bombardment. 

For  the  defences  of  the  Boers,  imagine  green  and 
iron-brown  eminences  covered  very  thickly  with  mas- 
sive rocks.     A  hollow  scraped  behind  a  convenient 

284 


Defences  of  the  Boers 

stone,  three  smaller  rocks  piled  above,  and  the 
burgher  has  prepared  his  individual  castle.  The 
big  rock  shields  his  body,  the  smaller  rocks  —  an 
interstice  between  two,  through  which  a  rifle  can 
rest,  with  a  third  placed  above  to  complete  the  loop- 
hole, —  protect  his  head.  Even  at  close  range  there 
is  little  to  detect  -these  shelters  from  the  thousand 
surrounding  boulders;  the  thin  vapor  of  smokeless 
powder  is  hidden  by  the  sun  haze.  Visible  trenches 
are  then  thrown  up  to  attract  the  enemy's  fire  to 
unoccupied  ridges ;  tents  are  placed  on  prominent  but 
safe  places  to  draw  shell  fire. 

Of  the  thousands  of  bullets  that  ricochet  harmlessly 
against  the  rocks,  units  find  a  billet.  To  render 
these  shelters  shell-proof,  boulders  are  piled  around 
with  apparent  carelessness,  to  form  a  rough  enclosure ; 
and  shrapnel  are  useless,  and  common  shell  must  burst 
with  a  rare  nicety  or  waste  their  force  on  the  hillside. 

Gun  pits  are  sunk  on  the  reverse  of  the  ridges  and 
a  chamber  dug  forward  to  within  eight  feet  of  the 
frontal  ascent.  Through  this  protecting  wall  of  earth 
only  a  necessary  embrasure  is  cut  to  the  front  of  the 
ridge,  so  that  the  gun  is  worked  in  practically  an 
underground  chamber,  served  in  absolute  protection, 
and  exposed  only  to  a  minimum  of  danger  during  the 
interval  of  discharge.  Against  such  defences  the 
British  have  had  to  advance  across  an  open  valley, 
exposed  to  the  last  to  a  fire  before  which  troops 
cannot  live. 

285 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

I  have  frequently  scanned  South  African  kopjes 
signalled  as  "occupied"  by  some  wary  scout,  and 
with  strong  glasses  it  has  been  impossible  to  detect  a 
sign  of  life  or  defence ;  the  hill  looked  like  its  neigh- 
bor which  we  had  just  passed.  Reconnaissance  may 
fail  to  detect  or  locate  the  enemy,  advance  guards 
pass  unmolested,  and  suddenly  the  advancing  regi- 
ment is  greeted  by  a  thousand  rifles  bursting  from 
apparently  nowhere.  Besides  an  abundance  of  such 
positions  beyond  the  Tugela,  the  heights  and  ridges 
were  systematically  intrenched,  covered  or  protected 
passages  were  cut  from  the  rear  at  all  exposed  points, 
some  trenches  were  blasted  in  solid  rock,  and  a 
more  formidable  position  can  scarcely  be  found  in 
history. 


CHAPTER  X 

A  Question  of  Supply.  —  Traits  of  the  American  Offi- 
cer. —  Automobile  Transport.  —  Dundonald's  Dash 
TO  Springfield.  —  Crossing  the  Tugela.  — Boer  Brav- 
ery.—  Disaster  of  Spion  Kop.  —  Vaal  Krantz. 

Napoleon  once  said  that  no  army  marched  with 
as  much  baggage  as  the  British.  This  is  true,  and  in 
part  creditable ;  for  it  may  be  attributed  to  the  rigid 
desire  to  respect  private  property,  and  neither  live  on 
the  land  by  commandeering  local  foodstuffs  nor  shel- 
ter or  billet  troops  on  the  inhabitants,  and  to  the  care 
bestowed  on  the  creature  comforts  of  the  army  to 
preserve  its  health  and  sustain  sick  and  wounded. 
There  are  wars  that  could  be  named  where  personal 
luxuries  of  the  officers  crowded  out  necessities  for  the 
men,  and  transportation  of  champagne  and  wine  for 
the  mess  was  provided  when  transport  for  soldiers' 
rations  was  meagre. 

I  have  seen  nothing  more  touching  than  the  care 
bestowed  by  American  officers  on  their  men,  when 
they  themselves  lacked  common  essentials.  I  have 
always  found  that  if  the  men  were  suffering  priva- 
tions, the  officers  were  certainly  suffering  greater 
ones.     I  stayed  in  several   camps   in  Cuba,  and  in 

287 


In  South  Africa  with  BuIIer 

Tampa  also,  where  the  officers  apologized  for  provid- 
ing water  for  meals.  The  men  had  secured  an  allow- 
ance of  coffee,  but  "we  did  not  wish  to  sponge  on 
their  ration."  I  have  stayed  in  camps  of  many 
nationalities.  I  think  I  may  safely  say  that  the  com- 
peer of  the  American  officer  in  relation  to  his  men 
does  not  exist.  I  have  seen  him  die,  I  have  seen 
British  officers  die,  and  many  others.  None  die  as 
do  the  sons  of  the  two  great  liberty-loving  countries, 
and  in  bravery  they  are  equals.  But  in  his  consider- 
ation of  his  men,  the  American  takes  highest  rank. 
A  certain  foreign  attach^  told  me  that  the  American 
officer  had  the  "foulest  mouth  "  in  the  universe.  He 
had  seen  much  of  a  certain  general  who  is  the  excep- 
tion that  proves  the  opposite  rule.  No  officer  uses 
more  temperate  language,  or  has  more  inherent  tact 
to  extract  a  willing  obedience. 

It  was  a  relief  to  me  after  some  previous  experi- 
ence with  the  British  officer  in  the  field,  to  note  that 
the  South  African  campaign  developed  similar  traits. 
Officers  who  proved  so  fearless  and  men  who  were 
brave  to  a  fault  naturally  engendered  a  mutual  re- 
spect, and  it  was  refreshing  to  note  the  altered  rela- 
tion after  a  few  weeks'  campaigning,  and  to  find  how 
much  the  officers  suffered  with  their  men,  when  face 
to  face  with  death  and  impending  disaster  and  a  foe 
that  needed  much  beating. 

When  BuUer  decided  to  try  a  way  round  Colenso, 
he  forbade  unnecessary  baggage;'  tents  and  person- 

288 


"I 

ft,    SQ 


Dangers  to  Animals  on  the  Veldt 

alities  were  barred  in  the  preparations  made  to 
divert  the  line  of  communications  from  the  railroad 
across  an  indifferent  country.  But  though  every 
ounce  was  essential,  ammunition,  rations,  and  hospi- 
tal supplies  for  30, 000  men  made  an  imposing  train. 

With  the  advance  divisions  alone  were  232  ox- 
wagons,  98  ten-span,  107  six-span,  and  52  four-span 
mule-wagons,  beside  artillery  and  traction  draught. 
Oxen  prove  satisfactory  for  transport  in  South  Africa, 
and  can  readily  be  turned  to  food  in  emergency,  but 
they  are  limited  to  two  miles  an  hour  over  an  ordi- 
nary track,  and  if  overdriven  they  speedily  become 
galled,  footsore,  and  useless.  In  rain  storms  at  night 
they  require  a  measure  of  protection,  or  pneumonia 
will  carry  them  off  in  scores ;  and  unless  pasture  is 
carefully  selected,  red  water  or  tulip  poison  will 
decimate  the  teams. 

The  horse  and  the  mule,  though  capable  of  greater 
effort,  must  carry  a  considerable  proportion  of  their 
own  forage.  Native  animals  can  live  on  the  veldt, 
but  the  British  were  forced  to  import  their  cattle  and 
were  at  great  disadvantage,  where  the  Boers  have  no 
fear.  The  animals  are  also  very  susceptible  to  horse- 
sickness,  the  dreaded  paarde  ziekte,  which  annually 
makes  its  appearance  throughout  southern  and 
central  Africa.  This  plague  develops  suddenly,  and 
either  attacks  the  respiratory  organs  like  a  severe 
form  of  hay  fever,  developing  into  a  cough,  the  head 
swelling  rapidly  until  the  animal  dies  after  eight 
19  289 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

hours'  agony,  or  appears  in  the  digestive  organs, 
when  internal  fever  develops,  which  proves  fatal 
within  twenty-four  hours.  The  disease  is  evidently 
a  species  of  malaria,  which  is  contracted  by  inhala- 
tion of  the  miasma  or  assimilation  of  the  poison, 
probably  in  the  dew,  partaken  when  grazing. 

For  animals  exposed  on  the  veldt  there  seems 
neither  prevention  nor  cure.  Experts  expected  that 
three-fourths  of  the  British  horses  would  contract  the 
disease  —  the  rate  of  mortality  being  88  per  cent. 
Bub  the  worst  season  has  now  passed,  with  the  light- 
est epidemic  in  fifteen  years.  In  case  of  recovery, 
the  South  Africans  procure  a  certificate,  and  the 
"  salted  "  horse  is  worth  three  times  his  old  value. 

General  Buller  anticipated  the  risk  of  transport 
by  importing  military  traction  engines,  famed  on  the 
Long  Valley,  where  they  have  astonished  all  be- 
holders during  the  manoeuvres  of  recent  years.  Ani- 
mal traction  is  expensive,  slow,  cumbersome,  and 
troublesome,  and  it  is  a  painful  tribute  to  "circum- 
locution "  methods  of  the  British  War  Office  that 
the  question  of  mechanical  traction  has  so  long  been 
shelved.  The  Indian  government  experimented  with 
specially  built  road  engines  just  before  the  Afghan 
war  of  1879.  Through  the  whole  campaign  they 
proved  their  extreme  usefulness ;  but  when  they  were 
worn  out  they  were  not  replaced,  and  the  British  War 
Office  made  no  great  progress  in  the  matter  of  steam 
traction.     The  Foreign  Office  has  found  the  engines 

290 


Advantages  of  the  Iron  Horse 

of  immense  service  beyond  railhead  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Uganda  Railroad,  and  home  service  should 
have  demonstrated  their  utility  for  South  Africa 
without  waiting  to  experiment,  before  finally  ship- 
ping a  regular  supply. 

The  advantages  of  the  iron  horse  are  many.  In 
speed  it  can  sustain  eight  miles  per  hour  on  a 
tolerable  road,  and  travel  night  and  day  with  no 
great  delay.  An  engine  requires  less  care  than  a 
single  span  of  mules,  and  it  will  do  the  work  of  100 
mules  or  160  oxen.  On  arrival  in  camp,  where 
animals  must  be  groomed,  rested,  and  fed,  with  light 
labor  the  engine  works  a  dynamo,  pump,  or  freezer, 
thus  supplying  the  camp  with  electricity,  water,  and 
ice,  if  necessary.  Coal  for  one  engine  is  a  small 
matter  compared  with  fodder  for  90  to  120  draught 
animals,  and  during  halts,  while  the  engine  is  rest- 
ing, the  beasts  continue  to  need  forage. 

In  bogs  or  on  difficult  ground,  where  animals 
would  flounder  hopelessly,  the  engine  drops  its  load, 
crosses  alone,  and  then  draws  the  wagons  over 
with  a  cable  and  drum.  If  the  engine  sticks  or  the 
ground  is  steep,  anchors  are  fixed  ahead  with  cables 
attached,  and  the  road  locomotive  draws  itself 
clear. 

Its  greatest  advantage  is  the  tremendous  shortening 
of  transport  trains.  Major  Crompton,  Consulting 
Traction  Engineer  to  Lord  Roberts,  computes  that 
100  tons'  load,  to  be  transported  fifty  miles  in  South 

291 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

Africa,  with  fodder  or  fuel  for  the  return  journey 
empty,  would  require :  — 

Length 
Time.  of  column. 

169  Ox-wagons  (2,360  oxen)     127  tons  fodder     6  days      5,910  yards 

14  Engines 14  tons  fuel    .     4  days         410  yards 

A  much  less  number  of  men  are  required  either  to 
drive  or  guard,  and  the  risks  of  capture  in  the  latter 
are  reduced  to  a  minimum,  especially  if  the  engines 
are  protected  by  bullet-proof  plates,  whereas  in  a 
narrow  road  a  single  bullet  may  kill  an  ox  and  delay 
the  whole  train  until  captured. 

But  the  present  military  engine  is  too  heavy  for 
practical  purposes  at  all  times,  especially  where  pon- 
toons have  to  be  crossed  or  roads  are  bad.  Since 
macadam  is  not  found  everywhere,  it  should  be  largely 
supplemented  by  lighter  traction.  Two  light  engines 
or  automobiles  that  can  each  carry  and  haul  three 
tons  under  all  conditions  are  obviously  better  than 
one  that  can  transport  seven  tons  with  limitations. 
Messrs.  Thorneycroft  have  constructed  an  automobile 
transport  wagon  which  will  carry  a  gun  or  a  three-ton 
load  two  hundred  miles  in  twenty-four  hours,  and  it 
will  also  drag  a  trailer  of  two  tons  at  a  slightly 
decreased  speed.  Who  could  limit  or  estimate  the 
possibilities  of  war  with  such  a  transport  train  ? 

By  night  and  by  day  the  mounted  troops  had 
scouted  and  patrolled  before  Colenso,  pending  fresh 
operations.     Officers  with  tiny  escorts  risked  death  a 


Preparations  Made  for  an  Advance 

hundred  times  to  sketch  the  Boer  positions,  and  the 
Colonials  marched,  counter-marched,  and  demon- 
strated, misleading  the  enemy  or  attempting  to  do  so. 
On  the  chess-board  of  Natal  the  skilled  players, 
Buller  and  Joubert,  anticipated  each  move  of  the 
other.  A  feint  in  force  against  the  Boer  right  led 
Joubert  to  strengthen  his  left,  and  vice  versa.  For  a 
time  the  Boers  were  in  ignorance  of  British  inten- 
tions, thanks  to  the  provost  marshal,  who  sent  dis- 
loyalists to  cool  their  heels  in  Maritzburg,  despite  the 
paternal  solicitude  for  these  gentry  urged  by  the 
government. 

Closely  guarded  reconnaissance  on  the  extreme 
right,  covered  adroitly  by  bombardment  at  Colenso, 
and  the  general  report  that  Clery  would  advance  via 
Weenen  were  anticipated  by  Joubert  in  the  opposite 
direction ;  the  Johannesburg  commando  under  Vil joen 
and  a  force  of  Free  Staters  were  sent  to  occupy 
Springfield.  And  when  the  need  for  concealment 
seemed  less,  and  more  open  preparations  for  an  ad- 
vance by  this  western  route  were  made,  the  Boer 
general  detected  a  second  ruse,  and  withdrew  Viljoen, 
sending  part  of  his  force  east.  This,  of  course,  facil- 
itated the  main  advance.  But  marvellous  shelter 
and  commandeered  forage  enabled  the  burghers  to 
keep  their  horses  practically  in  the  trenches ;  and  with 
their  marvellous  mobility  and  British  immobility, 
no  permanent  advantage  could  accrue  from  their 
fallacious  reasoning. 

293 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

After  continuous  rain,  which  again  swelled  the 
Tugela  and  in  part  shut  the  Boers  from  the  southern 
bank,  on  January  10th  Buller  gave  his  first  orders  for 
a  definite  move,  and  moved  quickly.  On  the  previous 
night  a  dummy  battery  was  rigged  to  replace  the 
lyddite  guns,  supply  columns  with  rations  for  a 
working  week,  paraded,  and  as  the  earliest  dawn  was 
breaking,  the  brigades  were  ordered  to  move  west  on 
Springfield.  To  the  last  moment  conjecture  was  rife 
as  to  destination,  and  since  popular  sentiment  favored 
an  advance  to  the  eastward,  for  once  a  movement  was 
started  without  the  Boers  receiving  warning  in  time 
for  anticipation,  their  excessive  cunning  foiling  them. 

Dundonald,  with  the  scouts  and  Colonials,  was 
first  off.  These  irregulars,  the  Uhlans  of  the  col- 
umn, pressed  forward  in  a  forced  march  to  Spring- 
field, surprising  the  small  Boer  guard,  and  seized  the 
iron  bridge  crossing  the  Little  Tugela.  Sending  back 
men  to  announce  that  the  objective  was  unoccupied, 
and  leaving  a  guard  on  the  bridge,  the  Earl  pressed 
forward  to  the  Tugela  proper,  taking  the  78th  Battery 
in  lieu  of  horse  artillery. 

Potgieter's  Drift,  by  which  Buller  hoped  to  force 
the  Tugela,  lies  22  miles  west  of  Frere.  The  cross- 
ing had  caused  serious  apprehension  to  the  staff. 
Among  broken  ground  the  river  forms  an  S  at  this 
point,  the  fords  being  dominated  by  Swartz  Kop,  on 
the  south  bank,  strongly  intrenched,  with  the  impreg- 
nable ridges   of  Brakfontein  running  east  and  west 

294 


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Plucky  Volunteers 

on  the  north  bank,  along  which  the  main  Boer  line 
extended. 

Dundonald  marched  all  night  toward  Swartz  Kop, 
hoping  to  surprise  it,  and  hold  on  until  the  main 
column  arrived  to  sustain  his  effort.  His  initiative 
was  dangerous,  and  his  dash  with  the  Colonials 
reminds  one  of  the  exploits  of  the  English  irregular 
Winslow  and  his  troop  of  Baden  cavalry  at  Lauter- 
burg.  But  as  his  vedettes  rode  cautiously  forward, 
no  enemy  developed,  and  he  found  the  position 
unoccupied. 

Trusting  to  the  surprised  outpost  at  Springfield, 
Viljoen  had  withdrawn  his  force  to  the  east,  leaving 
a  small  guard  on  the  north  side  of  the  drift.  Keep- 
ing his  men  under  cover,  Dundonald  led  a  picked 
force  down  to  the  ford,  where  the  cable  ferry-boat 
had  been  hauled  high  into  the  slip  on  the  far  side. 
The  horses  of  the  outpost  were  grazing  on  the  bank, 
but  the  vigilants  were  sleeping  quietly  at  their  post. 
Lieutenant  Carlisle  at  once  volunteered  to  swim  the 
river  and  cut  out  the  ferry-boat  "under  their  noses.'' 
Turner,  Cox,  Barkley,  Howell,  CoUingwood,  and 
Godden,  all  of  G  Company  of  the  newly-fledged 
South  African  Light  Horse,  one  of  them  an  Ameri- 
can, were  selected  from  the  entire  company  that 
stepped  forward  when  volunteers  were  asked  for. 
This  little  party  swam  across  the  broad  and  turbid 
river  and  dragged  the  boat  into  the  water.  As  they 
commenced  to  work  it  across,  the  tackle   fouled,  a 

295 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

dog  on  the  bank  commenced  to  bark,  and  a  volley 
from  the  bank  told  the  volunteers  that  they  were 
discovered. 

Carlisle  was  wounded,  and  his  assistants  sprang  into 
the  water  with  him  and  commenced  to  swim  back. 
Cox,  however,  with  amazing  gallantry,  returned  to 
shore  on  the  far  side  of  the  pontoon,  and  squirming 
up  the  bank,  severed  the  tackle  with  his  jack-knife. 
The  enemy  were  so  engrossed  in  firing  at  the  escaping 
men  that  they  saw  nothing  of  his  action,  until  he 
turned  and  dived  back  into  the  water,  and  the  freed 
float  began  to  move  slowly  across,  hauled  by  the  men 
on  the  opposite  bank.  They  then  rushed  down  to 
shoot  him,  but  were  checked  by  steady  volleys 
from  the  other  side ;  and  by  clinging  to  the  lee  side 
of  the  pontoon.  Cox  escaped  their  fire  and  safely 
rejoined  his  cheering  comrades. 

The  main  column  had  left  camp  shortly  after  the 
Colonials.  To  their  inexpressible  regret,  Barton's 
brigade  was  left  at  Chieveley  to  guard  railhead  and 
keep  the  Boers  occupied  in  the  centre.  And  well 
they  performed  their  thankless  task.  "They  also 
serve  who  only  stand  and  wait." 

In  the  advance  Hart's  Irish  were  in  the  van,  Hild- 
yard's  brigade  wheeling  in  behind  them  from  Chieve- 
ley. Behind  this  division  under  Clery  came  Warren's 
division,  consisting  of  Lyttleton's  brigade  of  Rifles 
and  Woodgate's  newly  arrived  brigade  of  Lancashires. 
Coke's  brigade  formed  a  command  with   the   corps 

296 


Rapid  Advance  on  Springfield 

troops,  thus  making  practically  five  independent  com- 
mands, with  the  field  force,  under  Clery,  Warren, 
Coke,  Barton,  and  Dundonald  respectively.  The 
artillery  had  been  considerably  strengthened  by  the 
howitzers  and  additional  field  batteries,  but  did  not 
reach  the  full  ratio  for  the  augmented  force. 

The  rapid  advance  would  have  been  impossible  but 
for  the  traction  engines.  The  tracks,  misnamed 
roads,  were  quagmires,  dongas  were  filled  and  drifts 
flooded,  and  at  several  points  mules  and  oxen  died 
of  vain  exertion  in  trying  to  haul  the  650  wagons 
across.  The  traction  engines  made  a  new  reputation. 
Sliding  down  the  steep  banks  of  the  fords,  ploughing 
their  way  through  torrents  before  which  draught 
animals  could  not  stand,  they  effectively  solved  trans- 
port difficulties.  Their  weight  and  broad,  flanged 
wheels  pounded  down  the  mud,  the  flanges  gripping 
hardened  soil,  and  at  every  difficult  spot  one  of  these 
"puffing  Billies  "  was  dropped  to  haul  over  strings  of 
wagons  by  steel  cables,  the  oxen  and  mules  crossing 
unimpeded,  and  the  troops  passing  streams  dry  shod 
by  a  span  of  wagons  stalled  in  mid  stream  until  all 
were  over.  By  nightfall  Clery  had  bivouacked  near 
Springfield,  Warren  had  pressed  on  into  the  town  to 
take  up  a  position  on  the  right,  Hildyard  camping 
at  Pretorius'  farm,  within  easy  reach  of  Deel  Drift 
and  the  fords  at  Tugela  junction. 

With  the  first  gleams  of  morning  sun  a  heliograph 
on  Swartz  Kop  blinked  the  welcome  news  that  Dun- 

297 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

donald  held  the  ferry.  It  was  a  complete  surprise. 
In  less  than  twenty-four  hours  the  army  had  been 
jumped  far  to  the  westward.  All  divisions  were  on 
the  Tugela  when  the  crestfallen  picket  rode  to  the 
Hoofdlaager  and  apprised  Joubert  and  Meyer  that 
the  British  had  captured  the  ferry  and  were  crossing 
the  river.  Botha  was  not  then  in  command,  having 
secured  leave  of  absence  a  day  previously. 

Warren  took  his  division  westward  against  the 
extreme  Boer  right.  In  the  centre  the  naval  guns 
and  howitzers  were  mounted  on  Swartz  Kop  and  an 
adjoining  crest,  Hildyard  moved  off  the  road  and 
held  the  drifts  at  the  Tugela  junction,  and  the 
cavalry  pressed  on  to  Acton  Homes  on  the  extreme 
northwest.  Buller  established  his  headquarters  at 
Spearman's  Farm,  and  on  Saturday  his  right  and 
centre  were  only  awaiting  the  development  of 
Warren's  flanking  movement  ere  they  attacked. 

Rapidly  connected  by  telegraph.  Barton  then  made 
a  feint  at  Colenso,  keeping  the  Boers  occupied  an- 
other day;  and  it  was  late  on  the  15th  before  they 
made  a  decided  movement  toward  the  ridges  before 
Buller.  Howitzers  and  naval  guns  greeted  the 
burghers  from  a  commanding  position,  which  enabled 
them  to  search  the  Boer  trenches  and  cover  both 
centre  and  flank  attacks. 

On  Tuesday,  January  16th,  Warren  was  before  his 
objective,  and  Buller  ordered  a  general  advance. 
Lyttleton's  brigade  was   first  across   in  the  centre. 

298 


General  Advance 

The  Rifles,  crossing  the  flooded  drift  at  Potgieter's  by 
a  continuous  chain,  formed  along  the  bank  in  skir- 
mishing order,  sweeping  the  Boer  outposts  and  ad- 
vance guard  back  to  the  main  position.  They  also 
kept  down  a  vicious  fire  from  the  flanks  until  a  pon- 
toon ferry  was  fixed  and  the  howitzer  and  field  bat- 
teries sent  over. 

Seven  miles  further  west  Sir  Charles  Warren  threw 
his  division  over  the  Tugela,  at  Trigaardt's  Drift,  the 
Engineers  erecting  a  pontoon  under  a  heavy  fire.  He 
bivouacked  at  night  toward  the  flank  of  the  main  Boer 
line,  which  extended  southeast  to  Potgieter's  along  a 
series  of  ridges  dominated  by  a  great  bastion,  Spion 
Kop,  on  which  the  Boer  right  ostensibly  rested 
though  their  flanks  were  "  in  the  air,"  and  they  rapidly 
extended  west  along  ridges  through  Acton  Homes 
into  the  spurs  of  the  Drakensberg,  beacons  being  lit 
for  reinforcements. 

Excessive  caution  seemed  to  have  seized  the  British 
generals.  Unwilling  to  repeat  Colenso  tactics,  they 
clung  to  the  outer  works  of  the  enemy  while  the  artil- 
lery made  a  thorough  preparation  for  assault,  in  which 
the  kopjes  suffered  severely,  the  Boers  resting  securely 
in  their  bombproofs,  or  in  rear  of  the  ridges,  awaiting 
developments.  Under  ordinary  conditions  all  this 
was  regular,  but  since  the  enemy  was  not  in  force,  it 
afforded  them  time  to  bring  down  reinforcements 
with  their  guns,  which  they  mounted  at  night,  and 
prepare  for  defence.     If  the  assault  had  been  quickly 

299 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

pressed  it  would  have  stood  greater  chances  of 
success. 

But  BuUer's  idea  was  to  engage  the  enemy  along 
the  front  while  Warren's  division  forced  its  way  by  a 
detour  through  Acton  Homes,  passing  round  the  Boer 
right  and  striking  across  the  more  open  country  to 
the  hills  surrounding  Ladysmith.  For  this  purpose 
he  delayed  until  he  had  seventeen  days'  rations  in 
reserve  to  send  to  Warren.  With  a  division  in  their 
rear,  the  Boers  would  be  forced  to  withdraw  at  least 
from  the  right  half  of  their  line  before  the  Tugela, 
and  Clery  could  throw  his  division  forward,  thus  co- 
operating with  Warren  in  raising  the  siege. 

But  while  the  troops  in  the  centre  had  established 
themselves  in  positions  that  would  keep  the  line  of 
communications  clear  to  the  westward,  Warren,  who 
was  allowed  great  initiative,  found  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  extend  a  line  of  communications  round  the 
extreme  flank.  He  sent  the  following  despatch  for 
the  commander-in-chief:  — 

"  Left  Flank,  19th  January. 
*'  To  THE  Chief  of  the  Staff,  —  I  find  there  are 
only  two  roads  by  which  we  could  possibly  get  from 
Trichardt's  Drift  to  Potgieter's,  on  the  north  of  the 
Tugela;  one  by  Acton  Homes,  the  other  by  Fair  View  and 
Eosalie.  The  first  I  reject  as  too  long ;  the  second  is  a  very 
difficult  road  for  a  large  number  of  wagons,  unless  the 
enemy  is  thoroughly  cleared  out.  I  am,  therefore,  going 
to  adopt  some  special  arrangements  which  will  involve  my 

300 


First  Hard  Blow  Struck 

stay  at  Venter's  Laager  for  two  or  three  days.    I  will  send 
in  for  further  supplies  and  report  progress.^ 

"  Warren." 

A  council  of  officers  confirmed  the  impossibility  of 
getting  round  with  transport  for  only  three  days' 
rations,  and  it  was  decided  to  force  back  the  Boer 
line  until  the  division  could  break  the  cordon  and 
press  through  to  the  rear,  via  Rosalie,  to  raise  the 
siege,  with  haversacks  and  emergency  rations  in  lieu 
of  transport. 

On  January  20th,  the  first  hard  blow  was  struck. 
Hildyard  moved  from  Deel  Drift  on  the  right  to  sup- 
port Warren,  and  the  irregulars  covered  the  left 
flanks.  The  Light  Horse  rushed  recklessly  into  the 
fray  on  the  left,  carrying  all  before  them,  and  storm- 
ing a  sugar-loaf  kopje  in  face  of  a  heavy  fire.  Several 
Americans  serving  with  this  force  behaved  with 
especial  gallantry.  Corporal  Tobin,  one  of  the  cool- 
est, and  a  trained  athlete,  outstripped  his  squadron  in 
the  ascent,  and  as  the  burghers  clung  close  to  cover, 
he  reached  the  ridge  unperceived.  Disturbed  by  the 
shouts  of  the  stormers  below  them,  whom  thej^  could 
not  assail,  his  hoarse  voice  rising  suddenly  from  the 

1  Sir  Charles  Warren  had  formulated  his  plans  on  the  basis  of 
Stays'  rations.  He  had  misunderstood  Buller's  intention  of  keep- 
ing his  supplies  filled  up  as  required,  only  burdening  him  with  such 
transport  as  was  necessary  for  the  short  period.  Buller's  ability  to 
do  this  has  not  been  clearly  demonstrated,  but  the  possibility  alone 
places  a  different  aspect  on  the  alteration  of  plan.  With  supplies 
assured  the  ddtour  round  Acton  Homes  could  have  been  made. 

301 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

crest  itself,  "Now,  boys,  in  with  the  bayonet!"  de- 
cided the  burghers,  and  they  swarmed  down  the 
reverse.  Tobin  seated  himself  nonchalantly  on  the 
summit,  and  announced  to  his  breathless  comrades 
that  the  hill  was  his.  His  fame  spread  from  drummer- 
boy  to  general. 

The  regulars  closed  in  swiftly.  Hart's  Irish  in  the 
centre,  Woodgate's  brigade  on  the  right.  Their 
charge  was  covered  by  the  concentrated  fire  of  the 
field  batteries,  which  disconcerted  the  burghers,  and 
the  entire  row  of  intrenched  ridges  were  brilliantly 
carried  with  the  bayonet.  But  the  disheartening 
topography  of  Natal  killed  the  triumph.  A  second 
row  of  kopjes,  even  stronger,  lay  beyond ;  successive 
positions  dominated  the  captured  ridges,  which  be- 
came the  objective  of  every  gun  in  the  vicinity.  But 
sunset  brought  relief.  When  the  next  day,  Sunday, 
was  very  young,  the  Boers,  preparing  their  matutinal 
coffee,  were  sent  to  shelter  by  a  sudden  bombard- 
ment, under  cover  of  which  the  irrepressible  British 
charged  across  the  intervening  valley  and  carried  the 
next  position,  despite  heavy  stone  breastworks  and  a 
cross  fire.  The  burghers  did  not  appreciate  the  breach 
of  the  fourth  commandment,  and  left  their  breakfasts 
cooking.  But  some  of  their  gunners  were  "foreign 
infidels,"  and  thus  their  guns  could  be  worked  with 
immunity  on  the  Sabbath. 

On  Monday,  22d,  the  British  rested  in  the  trenches 
under  a  heavy  shell  fire  from  the  eminences  in  rear. 

302 


General  Buller  Visits  the  Position 

The  naval  guns  and  field  batteries  strove  all  day  to 
silence  the  artillery,  but  those  splendid  Boer  gun- 
ners sustained  a  fire  that  could  neither  be  silenced 
nor  excelled. 

General  Buller  visited  the  position  on  the  23d,  and 
was  dismayed  at  the  exposed  condition  of  the  division. 
He  strongly  advised  Warren  to  retire  gradually  and 
revert  to  the  original  plan  of  d^touring  on  the  left. 
He  refused  to  sanction  further  delay  —  the  assault 
must  be  pressed,  or  abandoned  for  the  former 
manoeuvre.  It  was  pointed  out  that  the  massive 
eminences  beyond  must  be  taken  by  surprise,  and  that 
all  preparations  had  been  made  for  a  night  attack  on 
Spion  Kop.  He  then  waived  his  supreme  authority 
and  left  the  operation  to  develop,  that  the  previous 
days'  sacrifices  might  not  be  in  vain. 

From  Spion  Kop  to  the  hills  against  Ladysmith 
were  sixteen  miles  of  tolerably  level  veldt.  With  a 
hostile  force  there,  the  holding  of  the  Tugela  would 
have  been  impossible,  and  the  Boers  fully  realized 
their  weakness  by  making  the  Kop  their  strongest 
point.  Once  the  British  worked  beyond  the  Kop  to 
the  open  ground,  sustained  defence  would  have  been 
impossible. 

On  Spion  Kop  trenches  had  been  blasted  from  solid 
rock,  and  gun  emplacements  constructed  on  approved 
plans.  The  Kop  is  about  four  miles  long,  very  steep 
on  the  western  side,  and  with  two  high  peaks  on  the 
northeast,  and  innumerable  cuts  and  depressions  in 

303 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

its  gnarled,  irregular  summit.  It  completely  bisected 
the  Boer  line.  Held  with  artillery,  it  would  become 
a  pivot  on  which  the  right  wing  could  be  forced  back, 
opening  thereby  a  clear  route  to  Ladysmith.  The 
strong  ridges  of  Brakfontein  would  also  be  exposed 
to  artillery  fire  on  their  left  rear,  and  rendered 
untenable. 

On  the  evening  of  January  23d,  at  6.30  p.m..  Gen- 
eral Woodgate,  with  the  Lancashire  Fusiliers,  Royal 
Lancashires,  17th  Company  Royal  Engineers,  and 
Thorneycroft's  Mounted  Infantry,  with  two  com- 
panies of  the  Connaught  Rangers  and  the  Imperial 
Light  Infantry  in  support,  advanced  quietly  to  sur- 
prise the  position.  The  stormers  had  a  long  and  diffi- 
cult advance  in  the  darkness,  but  finally  reached  the 
Kop  and  commenced  the  ascent.  After  nine  hours' 
hard  climbing,  the  treacherous  summit,  1600  feet 
above  the  river,  was  gained.  General  Woodgate 
led  the  assault,  guided  by  the  fitful  gleam  of  the  Boer 
camp-fires.  The  camp  was  taken  completely  by  sur- 
prise ;  the  burghers,  awakened  from  sleep,  turned  and 
fled  in  confusion,  pursued  by  rapid  volleys  from  the 
British,  who  gained  the  position  with  a  loss  of  three 
men. 

The  Engineers  hastily  constructed  a  trench,  the 
rocky  nature  of  the  ground  making  it  impossible  to 
dig  effectively.  Rain  had  fallen  the  whole  night  and 
the  troops  were  thoroughly  exhausted  by  their  long 
march  and  the  ascent,  but  there  was  little   time  to 

304 


=1 


2    I 


Destructive  Fire  of  the  Boers 

rest.  A  crash  of  Boer  artillery  announced  the  early 
dawn.  In  the  darkness  the  trench  had  been  con- 
structed across  a  gentle  slope,  so  that  guns  from  three 
sides  could  rake  the  position;  and  the  defence  was 
commanded  by  high  spurs  and  irregular  rocky  emi- 
nences on  the  Kop  itself,  all  of  which  could  be  reached 
without  risk  from  the  plain  below,  the  approaches 
being  entirely  covered. 

Despite  a  heavy  fog,  the  guns  quickly  found  the 
range  and  commenced  to  search  out  every  inch  of  the 
sorry  breastwork  so  hurriedly  constructed.  And  ere 
means  could  be  taken  to  strengthen  it,  a  rifle  fire 
was  opened  by  daring  marksmen,  who  had  crept  up 
unseen  in  the  fog  and  completely  enfiladed  the  posi- 
tion. A  few  of  their  own  shells  burst  near,  but  they 
were  safely  ensconced  among  the  rocks,  and  faced 
them  with  impunity.  From  Taba  Myama,  less  than 
a  mile  distant,  the  enemy  was  able  to  sustain  an  in- 
cessant shrapnel  fire.  In  two  hours  the  Boers  had 
fired  over  a  thousand  projectiles  against  the  exposed 
summit  held  by  the  thin  line  in  khaki.  The  auto- 
matic 1-pounder  then  added  to  the  horrors,  searching 
out  the  trench  repeatedly,  and  despite  all  efforts  of 
supports,  it  became  choked  with  dead  and  wounded. 

Attempts  to  strengthen  the  breastworks  were  re- 
peatedly defeated  by  the  resolute  Boer  riflemen,  who 
pumped  their  Mausers  incessantly  all  day  and  forced 
every  one  to  cover,  though  they  were  less  than  500. 
But  they  knew  the  position,  and  thus  were  not  so 
20  305 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

troubled  by  the  fog,  which  completely  baffled  the 
British  and  negatived  any  strong  artillery  support 
from  the  batteries  before  Potgieter's.  And  when  the 
fog  lifted,  an  advanced  party  of  infantry,  moving 
down  to  clear  a  connecting  nek,  were  exposed  to  a 
a  rain  of  projectiles  from  a  British  field  battery  firing 
under  a  misapprehension,  to  accomplish  the  same 
task. 

When  Warren  commenced  his  operations  Botha  was 
on  his  way  to  Pretoria,  and  the  first  British  success 
led  the  President  to  order  him  to  supreme  command 
on  the  Upper  Tugela.  The  burghers  were  hard 
pressed  and  disorganized  when  he  arrived,  and  the 
subsequent  loss  of  Spion  Kop  on  his  right  centre  was 
a  hard  blow  to  his  plans.  But  this  brave  young 
farmer-general,  whose  modesty  deserves  the  world's 
respect  and  his  compatriots'  emulation,  had  rapidly 
directed  operations  to  retrieve  the  loss.  The  mist 
favored  him,  and  though  it  lifted,  it  soon  gathered 
again.  Covered  by  this  fog,  he  led  small  parties  of 
burghers  to  the  summit  and  placed  them  in  various 
points  of  vantage,  where  they  could  sweep  the  British 
exposed  on  the  flat  and  lower  portion  of  the  emi- 
nence. "Despair,  the  last  weapon  that  sometimes 
achieves  victory,"  stimulated  the  Boers  to  heroic 
exertion. 

In  the  fog  some  burghers  crept  within  two  yards  of 
the  advanced  British  position;  others  crawled  behind 
rocks,  where  they  could  enfilade  the  shallow  trench ; 

306 


Reinforcements  scaling  Spion  Kop. 
Drawn  by  Rene  Bull. 


Attempt  to  Expel  the  Enemy 

then  they  opened  simultaneously.  More  than  half 
the  soldiers  had  been  killed  or  injured  by  shell  fire, 
and  the  survivors  were  soon  forced  to  surrender. 
Shalk  Burger  sent  a  portion  of  his  command  to  the 
spurs  on  the  far  side  of  the  Kop,  and  they  soon  assailed 
the  British  rear,  getting  splendid  cover  among  the 
irregularities  of  the  vast  summit. 

General  Woodgate  was  shot  through  the  head  at 
this  juncture,  and  most  of  the  officers  had  fallen, 
but  a  company  of  troops  in  the  main  position  fixed 
bayonets  and  attempted  to  expel  the  enemy  from  the 
ridge  that  they  had  gained  on  the  crest.  They  were 
thrice  forced  back  with  loss,  however;  but  British 
reinforcements  arrived,  climbing  the  ascent  enfiladed 
by  the  automatic  gun.  They  then  drove  the  Boer 
riflemen  from  their  lodgment,  but  found  it  impossi- 
ble, from  the  formation  of  the  ground,  to  get  any 
cover  from  the  shelling. 

Lyttleton's  brigade  strove  to  relieve  the  pressure  by 
a  frontal  attack,  the  60th  Rifles  gaining  a  footing  on 
the  northern  spurs  and  the  Scottish  Rifles  obtaining 
a  ledge  on  the  other  side.  They  were  exposed  to 
severe  rifle  fire  from  the  surrounding  kopjes,  but  hung 
on  tenaciously  until  dark.  The  gallantry  of  the  reg- 
ulars was  equalled  by  the  stolid  bravery  of  the 
burghers,  who  showed  the  courage  only  inspired  by 
intense  devotion. 

When  General  Coke  rode  out  to  assume  command 
of  the  Kop,  darkness  had  stilled  several  of  the  Boer 

307 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

guns,  though  an  intermittent  shelling  was  sustained. 
The  condition  of  the  men  on  the  summit  was  des- 
perate, however.  The  ground  was  littered  with 
dying  and  dead,  the  men  had  been  without  food  or 
water,  and  were  in  no  condition  to  sustain  a  further 
defence  at  daylight.  Leaving  Thorneycroft  in 
charge.  Coke  rode  back  to  confer  with  Warren  as  to 
the  best  means  of  strengthening  the  position,  and  Sir 
Charles  at  once  arranged  for  artillery  and  engineers 
to  be  sent  to  the  summit.  A  proper  system  of  de- 
fence was  devised,  and  preparations  were  made  to 
hold  the  Kop  at  all  hazards  until  resistance  could  be 
swept  away  on  the  flanks. 

Unfortunately,  General  Warren  had  remained  on 
the  extreme  left  to  guide  the  turning  movement. 
Coke  took  long  to  reach  him,  and  ere  fresh  orders 
arrived,  the  surviving  officers  on  the  Kop  held  a 
council  of  war,  at  which  a  large  majority  favored  evac- 
uation to  save  extermination  at  daylight.  A  desul- 
tory cannonade  started  later,  giving  the  worn  men 
no  chance  to  eat  or  rest.  There  is  also  a  story  of  a 
despatch,  intended  for  Colonel  Riddell,  ordering  him 
to  withdraw  his  force,  the  60th  Rifles,  from  the  ex- 
posed position  where  they  would  mask  the  fire  of  the 
British  artillery.  The  colonel  had  been  killed  prior 
to  its  delivery,  and  Thorneycroft  receiving  the 
despatch,  as  next  senior  officer,  applied  it  to  the 
entire  force.  This  incident  is  not  mentioned  in  the 
reports  of  either  Buller  or  Warren.     The  former  says 

308 


Spion  Kop  Abandoned 

that  Thorneycroft  used  a  wise  discretion,  but  Lord 
Roberts  severely  censures  him  for  taking  -the  initia- 
tive when  he  could  have  sent  to  consult  Warren. 
The  Divisional  Commander  is  also  blamed  for  remain- 
ing on  the  extreme  flank  and  not  visiting  Spion  Kop 
in  person,  when  the  entire  success  of  the  movement 
rested  on  its  retention. 

Much  may  be  said  in  Thorneycroft' s  favor.  His 
worn  men  could  not  face  the  emergency.  They  had 
been  battered  and  shot  at  until  few  had  escaped  in- 
jury, and  the  nocturnal  shelling  started  a  panic  which 
an  order  to  retire  alone  averted. 

Carrying  all  the  wounded,  leaving  the  dead  on  the 
field,  the  shattered  commands  quietly  evacuated  in 
the  darkness,  and  were  returning  to  the  main  British 
line  when  they  met  Colonel  Sim  with  the  Mountain 
Battery,  two  naval  guns,  a  strong  force  of  Engineers, 
and  600  men  for  a  working  party,  going  up  to  thor- 
oughly intrench  the  position.  Explanations  followed. 
Officers  on  the  spot  had  decided  that  the  position 
was  untenable  in  any  case,  and  not  as  useful  as  sup- 
posed, being  in  turn  dominated  by  other  hills.  With 
the  time  that  elapsed  to  get  a  galloper  to  Warren  and 
receive  his  reply,  dawn  drew  near,  and  it  was  too 
late  to  retrieve  the  blunder.  Certainly  no  one  could 
accuse  Thorneycroft  of  cowardice  or  lack  of  resolve. 
He  had  far  more  dead,  and  wounded  men  who  could 
not  fire  a  rifle,  than  men  able  to  fight;  few  had 
escaped  splinter  wounds.     The   exposed  portion  of 

309 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

the  Kop  was  solid  rock  and  could  not  well  be  in- 
trenched, and  he  was  not  apprised  of  the  reinforce- 
ments destined  for  him.  To  save  his  wounded,  it 
was  necessary  that  the  retreat  should  not  be  delayed. 
The  only  surviving  staff  officer.  General  Coke's 
Brigade  Major,  the  Colonel  of  the  Middlesex,  and 
other  officers  strongly  protested,  however,  against 
withdrawal. 

The  loss  of  Spion  Kop  points  to  the  need  of  a 
stronger  force  of  mountain  artillery  in  the  British 
army.  Elephants  have  now  been  discarded  for  the 
carriage  of  mountain  guns ;  these  pachyderms  are  too 
clumsy,  at  least  for  South  African  warfare,  and  camels 
are  unsuitable.  But  further  mule  batteries  will  be 
very  helpful  for  the  future  garrisoning,  and  past  ex- 
perience should  have  taught  the  need  of  them  when 
war  first  broke  out.  The  home  training  battery, 
improperly  equipped  with  mules,  the  service  battery 
held  in  Natal,  and  eight  batteries  mobilized  with  the 
native  artillery  on  the  Indian  frontier  constitute  the 
permanent  establishment.  Even  Spain  can  make 
a  better  showing,  and  she  has  no  vast  extent  of  fron- 
tier to  sustain. 

These  ten  batteries  are  manned  by  the  garrison 
artillery,  and  though  only  men  of  the  highest  charac- 
ter and  physique  are  detached  for  this  service,  the 
authorities  have  neglected  nothing  that  could  make 
mountain  service  distasteful.  All  pecuniary  advan- 
tages  are   lost  on  transference;    the  work  is  much 

310 


Withdrawal  Accomplished  without  Loss 

rougher  and  entails  arduous  marching,  and  there  are 
stable  duties  to  perform,  —  drawbacks  which  are 
entirely  outside  the  service  for  which  a  garrison 
gunner  enlists.  There  is  the  additional  disadvantage 
of  studying  cavalry  drill  in  riding,  marching,  sword, 
and  carbine  exercises,  after  learning  infantry  drill  for 
the  garrison  branch.  Men  taken  from  the  field  bat- 
teries would  be  far  better  fitted  for  these  duties,  which 
make  the  mountain  service  distasteful  to  the  garrison 
gunners.  The  Mountain  Artillery  should  be  entirely 
reorganized  and  strengthened.  With  properly 
equipped  mountain  batteries,  the  story  of  the  Natal 
campaign  would  have  been  brighter.  A  mule  bat- 
tery sent  up  with  Woodgate  would  have  done  much 
to  make  the  Kop  tenable. 

The  withdrawal  was  accomplished  without  the  loss 
of  a  man,  but  the  ambulances  could  not  get  in  close, 
and  many  wounded  were  not  moved  from  the  vicinity 
until  the  next  day.  A  prejudiced  writer  could  fill  a 
chapter  of  incidents  which  would  either  prove  the 
Boer  a  barbarian  or  a  saint.  Evidently  the  burghers 
vary  greatly.  Many  of  the  dead  were  found  with 
fingers  hacked  off  for  rings,  a  few  abandoned  wounded 
were  robbed,  and  some  murdered  in  cold  blood.  Yet 
Boers  with  tear-streaming  faces  gazed  on  the  shat- 
tered bodies  rent  and  mutilated  by  bursting  shell,  and 
many  showed  kindness  to  the  wounded. 

The  retirement  was  a  heart-breaking   experience 
for  the  British.     It  seemed  that  the  precious  lives 

311 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

had  been  uselessly  expended.  For  once  Tommy 
was  depressed,  and  his  curious  mixture  of  gaiety  and 
serious  determination  became  blended  with  a  surly 
moroseness.  Truly  the  companies  on  the  Kop  were 
heroes,  and  had  fought  to  a  clean  knock-out.  Yet 
there  were  hundreds  of  fresh  soldiers  ready  to  take 
their  place,  and  in  the  end  they  might  have  licked 
the  Boers.  The  "swaddy  "  is  a  clear  reasoner,  and  if 
he  expressed  his  disgust  at  the  whole  operation  in 
unparliamentary  language,  who  shall  blame  him? 
He  knew  his  peccare  in  hello  non  licet,  and  here  twice 
was  the  British  army  checked  by  an  army  of  farmers. 
The  famished  garrison  in  Ladysmith,  so  eagerly 
waiting  for  relief,  were  naturally  despondent  at  this 
second  failure,  and  the  men  who  had  long  combated 
disease,  wishing  to  keep  off  sick  report  to  the  end, 
could  control  themselves  no  longer,  and  the  hospitals 
received  a  great  influx  of  patients  who  had  buoyed 
themselves  up  with  a  hope  which  long  deferred  made 
heart  and  body  sick. 

Buller  now  withdrew  his  forces  across  the  Tugela, 
and  the  army  had  a  week's  rest.  Spirits  and  resolu- 
tion were  alike  restored  in  the  interval.  Three  thou- 
sand reinforcements  arrived  opportunely  to  replace 
casualties.  With  them  came  a  horse  battery  and 
more  cavalry,  and  no  one  doubted  the  success  of  the 
third  attempt  to  cut  a  passage. 

On  Saturday,  February  3d,  the  heavy  guns  were 
312 


Guns  Hoisted  on  Swartz  Kop 

hoisted  to  the  highest  point  of  Swartz  Kop,  from 
which  the  guns  the  Boers  had  rapidly  mounted  on 
Spion  Kop  and  Doom  Kloof  were  outranged.  The 
artillery  also  had  clear  play  on  the  frontal  ridges  of 
Brakfontein,  and  for  once  the  British  gunners  an- 
swered the  Boers  on  equal  terms  and  showed  Preto- 
rius,  in  keen  duels,  that  under  such  conditions  his 
fine  shooting  could  be  matched  if  not  surpassed,  while 
the  maximum  of  bursts  was  greater  than  with  the 
Boers.  But  the  effect  of  lyddite  on  the  massive  de- 
fences was  trivial,  and  unless  a  shell  exploded  right 
in  a  trench  the  splinter-proofs  sheltered  the  Boers 
from  harm. 

For  the  third  attempt  to  pierce  the  line  of  rock, 
steel,  and  brawn  that  barred  the  Ladysmith  Road, 
Buller  decided  to  make  Vaal  Krantz  his  objective. 
This  position  runs  almost  at  right  angles  to  and 
east  of  Brakfontein,  and  its  capture,  it  was  thought, 
would  enable  a  wedge  to  be  driven  from  ridge  to  ridge 
until  the  reverse  of  the  frontal  position  was  assailed. 
A  frontal  attack  pressed  home  at  that  juncture  would 
crumble  the  defence  of  the  line  and  open  a  wide  gap 
to  relieve  White. 

On  Monday,  February  5th,  the  advance  began,  the 
augmented  cavalry  division  being  divided.  Colonel 
Burn  Murdoch  taking  the  1st  Brigade  (regulars). 
Lord  Dundonald  retaining  his  Colonials.  Covered  by 
a  terrific  bombardment.  Colonel  Wynne  led  forward 
Woodgate's  old  brigade  against  the  centre  to  cover 

313 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

the  assault  on  the  Krantz.  For  a  time  the  Boers 
held  their  fire,  but  the  infantry  finally  unmasked  their 
guns,  allowing  a  steady  artillery  duel,  when  their 
splendid  gun  pits  alone  kept  their  pieces  in  action. 
Shell  after  shell  fell  right  against  the  epaulments,  but 
failed  to  silence  the  guns. 

The  long  grass  on  the  hillside  was  speedily  lit  by 
shrapnel,  but  the  war  balloon,  ascending  high  above 
the  smoke,  carefully  located  the  Boer  trenches,  and 
by  telegraph  the  positions  were  so  dusted  out  with 
shrapnel  from  the  concentrated  field  batteries  that  the 
rifle  fire  in  the  main  position  was  practically  silenced. 
A  shell  from  the  Vickers  Maxim  managed  to  reach 
the  balloon,  however,  and  temporarily  ended  its 
usefulness. 

Covered  by  this  assault,  the  Engineers  bridged  the 
Tugela  lower  down,  at  the  dangerous  Hunger's 
Drift  in  direct  line  for  Vaal  Krantz,  and  half  of 
Lyttleton's  Light  Brigade  was  over  the  river  ere  the 
flanking  movement  was  discovered.  But  the  ubiqui- 
tous  burghers  were  soon  in  force,  their  guns  were 
slewed  round  to  meet  the  new  attack,  and  the  final 
movement  was  anticipated.  But  the  regiments  de- 
ployed along  the  river  bank,  and  after  a  brief  delay, 
during  which  the  infantry  and  batteries  covering  the 
feint  against  the  front  were  skilfully  withdrawn 
under  a  heavy  fire  and  the  artillery  diverted  to  the 
flank,  the  word  was  passed  to  fix  bayonets  and 
charge. 

314 


Men  of  the  Two  Armies  Respect  each  Other 

Covered  by  a  shower  of  shrapnel,  the  Light  Infan- 
try sprang  forward  from  their  shelter  at  a  note  of  the 
bugle,  and  went  straight  against  Vaal  Krantz.  In 
vain  the  burghers  strove  to  stem  the  rush,  and  leaned 
over  the  berm  of  the  leading  trench  to  fire  at  their 
assailants  crawling  up  the  steep  ascent.  The  British 
drew  closer  and  closer,  and  ere  they  saw  the  glitter 
of  the  dreaded  bayonets,  the  defenders  fled  panic- 
stricken,  though  the  leading  company  of  the  Dur- 
hams  caught  a  number  as  they  ran  and  cut  through 
them,  capturing  many  who  surrendered. 

Ferocity  stirred  by  war  develops  harsh  brutality  in 
many  natures,  and  to  the  credit  of  the  British  soldier 
stands  the  number  of  prisoners  taken  during  charges, 
when  passions  are  heated  and  excitement  impels.  It 
is  poor  consolation  to  see  a  comrade  fall  by  your 
side,  and  as  revenge  tightens  your  heart-strings  and 
you  prepare  for  vengeance,  to  find  his  executioner 
throw  his  hands  up  and  be  obliged  to  hold  him 
guiltless. 

And  in  these  captured  trenches  unselfish  Tommy 
sat  with  the  shaggy  heads  of  Boer  wounded  in  his  lap, 
giving  up  his  scanty  share  of  water.  The  fury  of 
combat  and  thirst  for  reprisal  was  softened  by  pity  even 
for  a  wounded  and  very  dirty  enemy.  Common 
suffering  knit  a  curious  bond  of  sympathy  between 
the  wounded  of  the  two  races  who  were  treated  side 
by  side.  Even  the  fighting  men  of  the  two  armies 
learned  to  respect  each  other.      The   Boer  farmers 

315 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

were  the  prey  of  rumors  foisted  by  Kruger,  and  which 
they  could  neither  disbelieve  nor  examine;  and  it 
will  be  well  if  allowance  is  made  for  this  in  the  set- 
tlement. There  is  no  reason  why  the  Boer  cannot 
make  an  excellent  British  Afrikander  if  his  confi- 
dence is  fostered  after  his  respect  has  been  forced. 
With  tactful  administration,  I  do  not  believe  that 
they  will  hate  the  British  for  generations.  For  ten 
years  all  that  is  progressive  in  the  Transvaal  has 
been  advancement  on  British  lines,  and  despite  the 
efforts  of  irreconcilables,  the  present  generation  of 
Dutch  South  Africans  has  been  greatly  influenced 
by  English  manners,  customs,  dress,  and,  in  part, 
language. 

Afrikander  South  Africa  has  not  the  foundation 
upon  which  successful  nations  must  be  reared;  the 
fundamental  principles  of  liberty  and  democracy  are 
wanting.  But  if  the  Boer  has  hated  the  British 
unjustly,  misstatement  has  not  all  been  on  his  side, 
and  the  better  understanding  of  the  races  will  be  pro- 
ductive of  future  good. 

The  capture  of  Vaal  Krantz  accomplished,  a  gen- 
eral concentration  of  guns  was  made,  that  the  wedge 
of  troops  might  be  pressed  further  in.  But  again  the 
configuration  of  Natal  foiled  a  most  able  plan.  Like 
most  eminences  in  South  Africa,  the  Krantz  had  a 
difficult  face  to  assail,  and  it  was  found  impossible 
to  place  artillery  on  the  summit,  but  it  sloped  down 
gently  on  the  reverse,  and  could  be  swept  by  Boers 

316 


I 

a. 
.  e 

3  S 


Vaal  Krantz  Captured 

with  gun  and  rifle.  It  did  not  extend  far  enough  to 
cut  into  Brakfontein,  as  desired.  A  deep  donga 
also  enabled  the  Boer  riflemen  to  advance  within 
effective  range,  covered  by  their  guns  on  the  sur- 
rounding heights;  and  though  ten  thousand  men 
might  have  carried  out  the  movement,  the  risk  of 
failure  and  the  heavy  loss  that  must  be  entailed 
without  artillery  support  did  not  justify  a  further 
movement. 

Despite  the  agreement,  a  number  of  armed  Kaffirs 
were  seen  with  the  Boers,  and  from  armed  blacks  dead 
in  the  trenches  and  native  deserters  who  came  in  with 
arms,  it  was  evident  that  the  need  for  men  had  over- 
come other  scruples  in  impressing  the  natives.  The 
burghers  ranged  from  old  men  to  beardless  boys,  who 
had  gladly  joined  to  drive  out  the  reds.  Comman- 
deering had  pressed  heavily  on  a  willing  people,  and 
still  more  men  were  required.  But  this  can  hardly 
excuse  the  enrolment  of  blacks,  and  had  England 
said  the  word  in  reprisal,  her  battles  in  her  invaded 
territory  would  have  been  ended,  and  the  Boers  must 
have  hurried  to  protect  their  homes  from  hordes  of 
chafing  Basutos,  Zulus,  Bechuanas,  and  Matabili, 
eager  to  wipe  off  old  scores  and  only  too  willing  to 
again  taste  the  blood  that  had  been  withheld  by  the 
strong  hand  of  the  White  Queen  Mother. 

As  Lyttleton's  brigade  held  to  the  captured  posi- 
tion, a  Boer  ambulance  drove  quietly  over  the  plain, 
a  Red   Cross   flag   flapping  proudly.     It   reached   a 

317 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

ridge  a  mile  beyond,  and  coolly  and  in  clear  view  un- 
shipped a  Vickers  Maxim,  just  out  of  rifle  range. 
Rocks  were  piled  up  before  it,  and  soon  the  demoral- 
izing shells  came  buzzing  over  the  British  trenches. 
An  individual  rifle  fire  from  the  donga  also  tried  the 
troops  severely,  and  they  were  unable  to  leave  the 
trenches  for  food  or  water.  Until  the  second  evening 
they  held  out,  suffering  terrible  privations.  After 
sunset  Lyttleton  quietly  evacuated,  and  Hildyard  re- 
placed him  with  the  West  and  East  Surrey  and  the 
West  Yorks. 

Counting  on  the  fatigue  and  demoralization  of  the 
British  after  long  exposure,  the  Boers  gathered  in 
force  to  surprise  and  recapture  the  position.  Crawl- 
ing up  the  donga,  they  were  able  to  form  an  extended 
line,  and  almost  gain  the  crest  before  the  outposts 
discovered  them.  But  they  found  fresh  troops  await- 
ing them  in  the  trenches,  and  were  driven  back  with 
heavy  loss.  Hildyard  then  maintained  his  position 
with  ease,  while  the  cavalry  scouted  in  every  direc- 
tion with  the  hope  of  finding  a  weak  spot  assailable 
from  the  Krantz. 

Hart's  Irish  demanded  that  they  should  be  allowed 
to  retrieve  the  disaster  of  Spion  Kop,  by  attempting 
its  recapture  on  the  7th,  pointing  out  that  with  the 
occupancy  of  the  Krantz  the  Boer  forces  could  not  be 
concentrated.  But  after  a  council  of  war  all  attempts 
to  force  the  line  on  the  west  were  discarded  as  im- 
practicable, and  by  midday  on  the  8th  the  entire  army 

318 


Old  Quarters  Reoccupied 

was  again  south  of  the  Tugela,  wending  its  way  back 
to  railhead  at  Chieveley.  On  Sunday,  February  11, 
the  old  camping-ground  before  Colenso  was  reoccu- 
pied, and  hapless  Ladysmith  settled  down  in  despair 
to  further  fight  starvation  and  disease. 


819 


CHAPTER  XI 

A  Battle  of  Fourteen  Days  and  Nights.  —  Capture 
OP  Pieter's. — Majuba  Day. — Ladysmith  Relieved.  — 
Horrors  of  the  Siege. 

General  Clery  had  been  wounded  and  injured 
in  the  previous  operations,  and  was  forced  to  relin- 
quish his  division  to  Lyttleton.  This  necessitated 
some  alteration  in  commands,  but  Buller,  after  a  few 
hours'  supervision  at  Chieveley,  and  without  waiting 
for  sleep,  made  a  reconnaissance  toward  Hlangwane, 
the  possibilities  and  inducements  of  which  had  been 
hitherto  overlooked.  His  light  force  was  greeted  by 
a  warm  fire,  which  enabled  the  British  to  locate  the 
guns  and  their  position  to  a  nicety.  The  Colonials 
and  artillery  were  followed  up  on  retirement,  and 
were  forced  to  fight  their  way  clear. 

The  map  of  this  position  proved  misleading ;  Hlang- 
wane was  one  of  a  series  of  hills  all  strongly  occu- 
pied, though  the  capture  of  any  one  of  them  would 
in  a  measure  render  the  others  untenable.  Buller 
realized  now  that  he  must  risk  all  for  a  final  attempt : 
hard  as  were  the  conditions  that  he  had  to  face,  a 
fourth  repulse  would  mean  his  recall.  The  soldiers 
still  had  confidence  in  him,  and  his   failures  could 

320 


Army  Moves  Eastward 

hardly  be  designated  defeats ;  but  public  opinion  was 
adverse  —  Sir  Redvers  became  "  Sir  Reverse"  alias  the 
"Tugela  Ferryman,"  and  hostile  powers  pointed  a 
finger  of  scorn  at  the  baffled  British  army. 

On  February  14th  the  army  moved  eastward  toward 
Hlangwane.  The  advanced  Boer  works  rested  on 
Huzzar  Hill,  extending  along  the  irregular  spurs  and 
foothills  on  either  side.  Mount  Cingolo  and  Monte 
Cristo,  succeeding  eminences,  were  also  strongly 
occupied,  besides  Hlangwane,  the  main  position,  with 
its  defended  lines  of  communication  extending  across 
the  river.  Huzzar  Hill  became  BuUer's  first  objec- 
tive. Hildyard  and  Norcott  made  a  night  march 
and  gained  positions  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  posi- 
tion. Coke  and  Wynne  led  their  brigades  against 
the  centre,  and  Barton  assailed  the  left. 

Three  new  4.7  guns  and  one  6-inch  gun,  which  had 
been  sent  up  from  the  fleet,  accomplished  some  very 
effective  shelling  from  Colenso.  This  combined  fire, 
supplementing  the  field  batteries,  shook  the  Boer 
position  severely;  but  the  burghers  held  their  reply 
for  three  hours,  allowing  the  British  lines  to  ad- 
vance within  effective  range  before  they  opened. 
Then,  in  repetition  of  Colenso  tactics,  they  loosed 
their  entire  force.  Six  guns,  including  two  heavy 
Creusots  on  the  hills  in  rear,  and  numerous  auto- 
matic and  machine  guns,  besides  successive  rows  of 
riflemen  intrenched  on  Huzzar  Hill  and  spurs,  swept 
every  inch  of  the  advance. 
21  321 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

But  anticipation  is  a  great  power.  This  outburst 
was  no  surprise ;  the  troops  were  prepared  for  it,  and 
as  the  positions  were  unmasked  the  infantry  clung  to 
cover,  and  a  howitzer  and  seven  field  batteries,  held 
out  of  rifle  range,  drove  in  the  advanced  lines,  while 
the  naval  guns  pounded  the  artillery  to  silence  at 
extreme  range.  And  ere  the  burghers  had  recovered 
from  the  demoralization  of  the  effective  shelling,  the 
infantry  crawled  through  the  brush,  and  stormed 
Huzzar  Hill  with  the  bayonet^ 

The  battle  now  evolved  new  tactics  for  overcoming 
the  resistance  of  an  intrenched  enemy.  Previous 
reverse  had  proved  the  impracticability  of  sustaining 
assaults  on  successive  positions,  against  an  intrenched 
foe  with  modern  arms  and  smokeless  powder.  De- 
spite effective  artillery  preparation,  operations  against 
bomb-proof  trenches  are  too  hazardous  and  costly  to 
be  long  sustained,  and  it  is  seldom  that  an  attack 
according  to  the  present  text-book  can  succeed. 

Counter  trenching  is  now  the  laborious  but  only 
method  of  overcoming  strong  field  defence.  Siege 
tactics  must  be  applied,  counter  positions  being  main- 
tained, and  extended  gradually  forward  until  the 
enemy  is  driven  from  his  trenches.  This  necessi- 
tates a  large  force  of  sappers,  or,  better  yet,  the 
employment  of  infantry  to  throw  up  their  own  de- 
fences. The  United  States  troops  with  mess  tins 
and  tomato  cans  threw  up  crude  earthworks  before 
Santiago  that  saved  hundreds  of  lives.     The  British 

322 


Huzzar  Hill  Occupied 

soldier,  relying  on  the  Engineers,  who  are  not  always 
available,  has  not  emulated  his  American  cousin  in 
arms,  in  the  matter  of  hurried  intrenchments,  and 
frequently  both  Engineers  and  soldiers  have  suffered 
severely;  while  the  former  built  defences,  the  latter 
fired  from  exposed  positions,  unable  to  aid  in  intrench- 
ing, through  lack  of  utensils  or  implements. 

The  spades  issued  experimentally  as  part  of  the  sol- 
dier's equipment  found  disfavor  because  of  the  addi- 
tional weight  for  marching.  A  number  of  such 
implements  would  not  prove  difficult  for  transporta- 
tion in  bulk.  They  could  be  distributed  to  the  lead- 
ing companies  at  the  front,  and  carried  into  action 
in  a  frog,  without  greatly  impeding  the  soldier,  and 
would  prove  invaluable.  The  new  steam  sapper, 
that  cuts  out  trenches  in  face  of  a  deadly  fire,  will 
revolutionize  field  intrenching  when  it  is  further 
perfected. 

Huzzar  Hill  was  occupied  in  force  during  the  night, 
the  naval  guns  being  placed  in  position,  protected 
by  sand-bags,  and  in  a  few  hours  the  eminence  was  a 
fortress  that  could  have  defied  the  entire  Boer  army. 
From  its  summit  a  terrific  artillery  duel  raged  with 
cleverly  screened  Boer  guns  on  Hlangwane.  The 
cavalry  skirmished  on  the  flanks,  and  cleared  Boer 
guerrillas  from  the  trees,  though. several  officers  fell 
victims  to  these  sharpshooters. 

Despite  the  scouting,  however,  a  strong  commando 
managed  to  ddtour  and  sweep  in  between  the  pickets 

323 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

and  the  main  position,  masking  the  British  artillery 
with  British  outposts.  Used  to  riding  across  coun- 
try in  the  darkness,  the  burghers  captured  a  few 
sentries,  and  rode  away  from  the  strong  party  sent  to 
cut  them  off. 

Buller' s  entire  force  advanced  on  the  17th,  the 
troops,  in  continuous  line,  sweeping  forward  from 
ridge  to  ridge  against  Cingolo,  while  the  cavalry 
worked  round  the  extreme  flank  unseen.  The  Boers 
made  a  stout  resistance,  and  the  Queen's  suffered 
severely  during  the  frontal  attack.  But  the  cavalry 
suddenly  rode  hard  against  the  reverse  of  the  position, 
dismounted,  and  clambered  up,  carbine  in  hand,  tak- 
ing the  Boers  in  rear.  Finding  the  British  upon 
them,  the  burghers  evacuated,  escaping  by  the  con- 
necting nek  to  Monte  Cristo  as  the  troopers  charged. 
By  sunset  Cingolo  was  cleared  of  the  enemy,  guns 
were  in  position,  and  the  early  relief  of  Ladysmith 
seemed  again  within  the  bounds  of  reason. 

All  day  on  Sunday,  18th,  the  guns  pounded  Monte 
Cristo  and  Hlangwane  at  a  close  and  effective  range, 
and  before  night  the  resistance  on  Monte  Cristo  had 
been  subdued.  The  infantry  then  closed  in  on  either 
flank,  gaining  the  eminence  with  little  loss. 

With  Monte  Cristo  held,  Hlangwane  could  not  be 
long  defended.  After  a  few  hours'  rest,  the  tireless 
British  again  fought  their  way  forward,  the  Fusilier 
brigade  and  Thorneycroft's  irregulars  sweeping  over 
the  outlying  spurs,  and  storming  the  summit  of  the 

324 


British  Flag  Raised 

main  position  while  the  Boers  were  preparing  break- 
fast. The  burghers  fled  in  confusion;  the  laagers 
were  captured  intact,  with  the  entire  camp  equip- 
ment and  tons  of  ammunition.  But  the  guns  had 
been  mysteriously  spirited  away,  having  been  moved 
out  of  range  in  the  darkness  and  hauled  over  the 
drift  during  the  morning. 

The  Transvaal  flag  waved  over  Breytenbach's 
abandoned  laager  and  fell  trophy  to  the  colonials, 
and  amid  loud  cheers  the  British  flag  proclaimed 
from  the  summit  that  the  enemy  had  been  driven 
beyond  the  Tugela,  leaving  their  strong  but  filthy 
camps  behind  them. 

The  capture  of  the  Boer  left  has  a  moral.  It 
seems  that  many  colonials  who  knew  the  district  well 
had  advocated  a  movement  against  Hlangwane  at 
the  outset.  They  had  been  well  snubbed  for  their 
pains  in  pointing  out  the  advantages  of  the  position 
which,  after  weeks  of  delay  and  costly  fighting,  was 
finally  chosen,  and  with  success,  to  turn  the  enemy's 
line. 

Though  Botha  clung  desperately  to  Fort  Wylie 
and  the  positions  before  Colenso,  the  naval  guns  on 
Huzzar  Hill  soon  told  him  that  the  line  he  had 
striven  so  manfully  to  sustain  must  give  way  at  last. 
The  Dublin  Fusiliers  reoccupied  Colenso  village 
after  fifteen  weeks'  absence,  and  as  the  burghers 
pressed  down  to  the  river,  in  face  of  a  heavy  shell- 
ing,  to  hold   the  main  drifts,   the  Engineers  had 

325 


In  South  Africa  with  Duller 

pressed  forward  on  the  right  before  Hlangwane, 
and  threw  a  pontoon  across  the  river  there.  On  the 
21st  three  brigades  crossed  to  the  north  bank  of 
the  Tugela.  The  passage  was  hotly  contested,  but 
Coke's  brigade  swept  forward,  and  moving  against 
the  Boer  flank  forced  the  commandoes  to  withdraw 
from  the  fort  and  kopjes  before  Colenso,  the  Som- 
erset Light  Infantry  losing  100  men  during  the 
operation. 

Botha  now  rallied  his  forces  for  a  final  stand  on  the 
higher  eminences  of  Grobler's  Kloof  and  Pieter's 
Hill,  but  by  the  evening  of  the  22d,  three  brigades 
—  the  4th,  6th,  and  11th  —  had  bivouacked  before 
the  position,  prepared  to  ma*ke  the  final  stroke  in  a 
battle  that  had  raged  continuously  for  eight  days  and 
nights. 

The  foreign  contingents  now  dribbled  away  before 
the  continued  British  attack.  "  They  were  not  greatly 
missed,"  Botha  grimly  reported.  An  alien  company 
that  had  attracted  some  attention  was  a  Russo-Franco 
entente  cordiale,  —  the  Corps  of  "la  Belle  Otero," com- 
manded by  a  cashiered  Russian  officer,  who  had  lost 
money  and  honor  when  a  satellite  of  that  brilliant 
lady  in  Paris.  Abandoned  for  a  more  affluent  lover, 
he  had  marched  forth  to  fight  for  liberty,  sheltering 
the  sacred  name  under  the  notoriety  of  the  fickle 
Andalusianne.  The  simple  burghers  knew  nothing 
of  this  dancer,  and  the  Otero  contingent  had  their 
implicit  confidence,  though  it  left  them  to  their  own 

326 


Position  of  Boers 

devices  at  Pieter's.  Later  these  foreign  lovers  of 
liberty  sent  in  their  bill  for  personal  services  to 
President  Kruger,  and  found  that  his  promises  were 
violable,  though  backed  by  quotations  from  the  Bible ; 
and  after  weeks  of  arduous  service  they  found  them- 
selves with  no  share  in  the  Rand  gold  that  had  fired 
their  ardor  for  upholding  the  rights  of  the  Boers. 

Botha,  Burgers,  and  Meyer  concentrated  their 
strength,  however,  on  the  main  eminences,  and  made 
a  stupendous  resistance.  From  the  ring  of  hills 
around  Ladysmith  down  to  the  river  bend  is  one 
succession  of  kopjes,  seams,  and  wooded  dongas,  with 
steep  and  mountainous  kops  blocking  the  way,  ex- 
tending across  Onderbrook  to  Pieter's.  After  cross- 
ing the  Tugela  at  Colenso,  where  it  suddenly  flows 
due  north,  the  railroad  runs  parallel  to  the  river 
toward  Ladysmith,  with  hills  on  either  flank.  When 
the  Tugela  again  bends  eastward,  the  railroad  runs 
on  through  a  steep  ravine  into  Pieter's  Station.  The 
final  Boer  line  extended  across  Grobler's  Kloof  over 
the  heights  before  Pieter's,  and  small  companies  were 
extended  to  delay  every  step  of  the  advance  through 
the  broken  country,  chiefly  along  the  railroad  line. 

For  a  distance  of  four  square  miles  the  British 
fought  their  way  onward,  harassed  by  sharpshooters 
and  detachments  that  lurked  in  the  rocks,  and  am- 
bushed from  the  dongas  and  brush.  By  midday,  on 
the  23d,  after  a  night  and  morning  of  continuous 
fighting,    the   Lancashire   Brigade,  with   Hildyard's 

327 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

regiments  and  the  Rifles,  had  forced  their  way  be- 
tween Grobler's  and  Pieter's  at  great  cost.  They  soon 
proved  the  impossibility  of  forcing  a  road  directly 
through  such  a  country. 

While  his  left  centre  hung  on  before  Grobler's, 
Buller  determined  to  throw  his  right  forward  toward 
Ladysmith,  round  the  Boer  left.  But  the  burghers 
were  concentrated  on  the  eminences  before  Pieter's, 
and  from  the  left  of  their  line  could  command  any 
turning  movement  in  the  plain  below,  with  rifles  and 
artillery.  It  was  necessary,  therefore,  for  a  suc- 
cessful advance,  to  clear  the  enemy  from  the  hills 
on  the  eastern  end  of  his  line,  where  it  rested  on 
three  eminences  that  dominate  the  railroad  before 
Pieter's  Station.  The  Irish  were  ordered  to  advance 
up  the  track  and  along  the  river  bank,  to  seize  the 
foothills  at  the  river  bend  where  the  Tugela  and 
the  railroad  part  company,  and  endeavor  to  ous't  the 
Boers  from  the  hills  east  of  the  line,  which  is  here 
built  through  a  deep  ravine. 

In  face  of  a  terrific  fire  the  Inniskillings  seized  a 
kopje  at  the  foot  of  their  objective,  where  they  were 
strongly  supported  by  the  Dublins  and  Rangers,  and 
part  of  Colonel  Norcott's  Light  Infantry.  The  honor 
of  the  da}^  was  intrusted  to  Colonel  Thackeray.  It 
was  one  hour  before  sunset  when  the  first  advantage 
was  won,  and  he  determined  to  rush  the  position 
before  dark,  hoping  to  intrench  during  the  night, 
when  the  hill  could  be  permanently  held. 

328 


An  Armistice  Arranged 

The  southern  half  of  the  eminence  was  stormed  in 
magnificent  style  by  the  Inniskillings,  and,  supported 
by  companies  of  the  Dublins  and  Rangers,  they  strove 
to  clear  the  entire  crest  along  which  successive  Boer 
intrenchments  were  cut  and  strengthened  by  stone 
breastworks. 

With  amazing  tenacity  the  Boers  held  to  cover, 
blazing  away  from  their  trenches  on  the  higher  por- 
tions of  the  ridge,  until  the  Inniskillings  were 
practically  exterminated.  When  darkness  fell  the 
survivors  threw  up  a  rude  breastwork  of  rocks,  but 
lay  exposed  to  fire  from  both  flanks  during  the  entire 
night.  Reinforcements  went  forward  at  daylight, 
but  the  British  could  advance  no  farther,  and  the 
order  was  given  to  withdraw,  an  armistice  being 
arranged  to  bury  the  dead  and  gather  the  wounded. 
When  the  Inniskillings  were  extricated,  three  suc- 
cessive commanding  officers  lay  dead  on  the  field. 
Corporals  brought  back  shattered  companies;  and 
when  roll  was  called  one  officer  and  forty-three  men 
answered  for  the  battalion  that  had  gone  in  500 
strong. 

But  while  the  gallant  Irish  had  held  their  ground 
at  such  appalling  cost,  Buller  had  been  preparing  for 
a  skilful  movement  on  the  extreme  right.  Already 
Boer  deserters  came  in  with  stories  of  demoralization. 
Lines  of  wagons  were  reported  moving  back  toward 
the  Drakensberg,  and  Ladysmith  heliographed  that 
there  was  every  indication  that  the  Boers  were  pre- 

329 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

paring  for  a  general  retirement.  During  the  armis- 
tice, while  Buller  again  withdrew  his  troops  south  of 
the  Tugela,  the  laagers  were  being  broken  up  and 
the  disheartened  commandoes  decided  that  they  could 
never  withstand  another  attack. 

On  the  26th  the  general  British  retirement  was 
apparent,  and  inspirited  them  for  fresh  efforts.  They 
remounted  their  guns  and  remanned  the  trenches. 
But  Buller  gave  them  no  rest.  He  moved  his  entire 
force  back  to  Hlangwane,  and  then  advanced  across 
the  river,  due  northwest  from  that  position.  Cov- 
ered by  an  effective  bombardment  the  three  brigades 
crossed  the  pontoons  safely,  and  moved  slightly  to 
the  north,  against  the  hills  before  Pieter's.  Barton 
closed  in  first.  General  Wynne,  wounded,  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Colonel  Kitchener,  the  Sidar's  brother, 
who  led  his  brigade  after  Barton;  Colonel  Norcott 
with  his  regiments  was  on  the  flank. 

The  Scots  Fusiliers  stormed  the  farthest  mount  of 
the  triple  position.  Kitchener  then  loosed  his  bri- 
gade, and  the  Lancashires  and  Yorks  climbed  over 
the  low  foothills,  two  battalions  remaining  sheltered 
beside  the  railroad  to  turn  the  flank.  Finally  these 
brigades,  taking  advantage  of  every  inch  of  cover, 
reached  the  skyline  of  the  hill  beside  the  tracks,  and 
taking  the  Boer  trenches  in  flank  they  drove  the 
enemy  to  the  further  spurs  of  the  position.  Colonel 
Norcott  then  closed  in,  the  Rifles  and  East  Surrey 
clambering  up  the  southern  and  eastern  slopes  of  the 

330 


Th«:  aftermath  op  Pieter's  Hill. 
Fnnn  a  sketch  by  a  naval  officer. 


Majuba  Day 

triplicated  eminence,  and  finally  forcing  the  Boers 
from  the  summit. 

While  speaking  of  these  positions  in  Natal  it  may 
be  as  well  to  call  attention  to  the  vast  size  and 
irregularity  of  these  South  African  kops.  The 
seams,  ridges,  and  chasms,  and  the  neks  connecting 
one  hill  with  another,  make  the  summits  formidable 
battle-fields  on  which  entire  divisions  can  be  ma- 
noeuvred, or  a  Waterloo  fought. 

For  hours  the  fighting  raged  fiercely;  every  foot 
of  ground  was  hotly  contested,  and  many  fierce 
struggles  were  waged  ere  the  burghers  were  cleared 
from  the  outlying  spurs.  Briton  and  Boer  proved 
their  bravery  a  hundredfold,  and  over  100  bodies  of 
the  latter  were  collected  and  buried  by  the  British, 
whose  losses  were  also  very  heavy. 

It  was  Majuba  Day,  — an  anniversary  that  in  future 
will  be  celebrated  by  the  Boers  with  sackcloth  and 
ashes.  Driven  from  the  railroad,  with  the  hills  be- 
fore Pieter's  lost,  Botha  could  no  longer  hold 
Grobler's.  A  fairly  open  plain  led  up  to  Bulwhana, 
and  beyond  was  Ladysmith.  Their  strong  line 
was  broken  through  at  last,  and  the  commandoes 
mounted  and  retired  sullenly,  sadder  and  perhaps 
wiser  men. 

Checked  by  weak  rear  guards,  the  main  column  was 
soon  at  Nelthorpe,  the  cavalry  forcing  the  Boer  de- 
tachments back  and  capturing  some  belated  wagons. 
Captain  Gough  of  the  16  th  Lancers,  with  troops  of 

331 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Light  Horse  and  Carbineers,  followed  closely  by  Lord 
Dundonald  with  the  Colonial  Cavalry,  d^toured  to 
the  west,  driving  the  Boers  from  an  isolated  laager. 

In  the  gathering  darkness  a  plateau  loomed  before 
them.  A  camp-fire  gleamed  fitfully,  and  an  outpost 
challenged. 

"Halt!     Who  goes  there?" 

"  The  Ladysmith  relieving  column !  " 

The  ragged,  emaciated  British  outpost  gave  a 
quavering  cheer.  Then  discipline  had  its  way,  the 
guard  turned  out  and  presented  arms.  The  troopers 
pressed  on,  and  the  bearded  "  Tommies "  leaned 
wearily  on  their  rifles  and  cried,  from  the  effect  of 
sheer  excitement  on  their  weakened  constitutions. 

"Halt!   -Who  goes  there?"  from  the  main  guard. 

"  The  relieving  column !  " 

Cyclists  had  scorched  into  the  famished  city  by 
this  time  with  the  news,  the  gunners  fired  two  signal 
rockets,  and  men,  women,  and  children  loosed  their 
emotions,  pent  up  by  one  hundred  and  twenty  weary 
days  and  nights  of  siege,  pestilence,  and  starvation, 
and  rushed  forth  to  greet  their  deliverers. 

The  prolonged  siege  had  pinched  Ladysmith  to  the 
last  extremity.  After  the  disaster  at  Spion  Kop 
despondency  had  seized  the  plucky  garrison.  Food 
was  then  terribly  scarce.  The  continuous  shelling 
of  the  small  city  had  proved  trying  to  soldiers  and 
civilians;  but  it  was  the  women  and  children  who 
suffered  most.     Over  two  hundred  little  ones  were 

332 


Starvation  in  Native  Quarter 

shut  within  the  ring  of  cannon.  By  day  they  were 
forced  to  hide  in  bomb-proofs;  by  night  few  dared 
undress,  for  at  some  hour  the  alarm  would  sound 
at  the  flash  of  a  Boer  gun,  and  they  were  forced 
to  fly  through  the  night  to  again  take  refuge  until 
the  flight  of  projectiles  abated.  These  shelters  after 
heavy  rains  were  frequently  half  filled  with  mud  and 
water,  in  which  they  must  perforce  stand  for  hours 
together. 

The  garrison  was  ragged,  shoeless,  and  hungry. 
Meat  soon  disappeared.  Unfortunately,  few  vegeta- 
bles had  been  planted  in  the  vicinity;  even  Kafiir 
mealies  grew  terribly  scarce,  and  the  starving  horses 
and  mules  soon  became  the  staple  diet.  Disease 
grew  apace.  The  neutral  civilian  hospital  camp  was 
overflowing,  and  181  ofiicers  and  4,833  soldiers  had 
passed  through  the  hospital  during  the  first  nine 
weeks'  siege.  These  figures  were  doubled  during 
the  final  eight  weeks  and  the  proportion  of  deaths 
grew  larger. 

In  the  native  quarter  there  was  real  starvation,  for 
though  the  unfortunate  people  crowded  in  by  the 
Boers  to  help  eat  out  the  town,  received  regulation 
allowance,  the  same  as  every  soldier  of  the  line,  mark 
you,  the  unfortunate  Hindoos  preferred  to  die  rather 
than  risk  damnation  by  eating  cow's  meat;  and  curi- 
ously their  scruples  were  extended  to  horse  flesh, 
though  some  votaries  finally  accepted  this  ration  in 
last  extremity. 

333 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

The  considerate  treatment  of  natives  at  all  besieged 
towns  in  South  Africa  should  silence  those  who  speak 
of  British  injustice  to  inferior  races.  The  godly 
Boers  impressed  Kaffirs  as  slaves  at  all  points,  and 
when  rations  were  short  allowed  them  to  abjectly 
starve. 

Colonel  Ward  had  to  provide  for  16,000  Euro- 
peans, most  of  whom  were  in  regular  or  volunteer  ser- 
vice, though  2000  old  men,  women,  and  children  were 
on  the  "inutile"  list.  There  were  also  2,240  Kaffirs 
and  2,460  Hindoos  in  the  city.  Even  on  restricted 
rations  this  vast  number  of  people  soon  ate  up 
available  supplies.  But  necessity  fosters  invention. 
Tons  of  carcass  were  daily  buried  beyond  the  town: 
the  horses  and  mules  grew  so  thin  that  little  meat 
could  be  cut  from  them.  Then  Lieutenant  McNalty 
of  the  Supply  conferred  with  Colonel  Ward,  the  Com- 
missariat General,  and  after  many  experiments  pure 
essence  of  horse  was  concocted,  the  locomotive  house 
being  improvised  as  a  factory.  The  animals  were 
shot  at  one  end,  emerging  from  the  front  door  in  jars 
and  bottles  labelled  CHEVRIL.  This  horse-extract, 
trade -marked  "  Resurgam"  and  issued  under  the  code- 
signal  appellation  of  Colonel  Ward,  caused  hearty 
laughs  where  merriment  was  scarce,  and  provided  a 
nourishing  liquid  food  for  the  besieged,  who  declared 
it  outri vailed  Bovril. 

Rice-powder  for  the  face,  bran,  bird-seed,  and 
washing-starch  were  taken  from  the  stores  and  con- 

334 


si 

2  ^ 


E  =^ 


1 


Relief  Becomes  an  Accomplished  Fact 

verted  into  food.  A  plague  of  locusts  happening  in 
the  outskirts  proved  a  three -day  feast  to  the  blacks, 
who  gathered  them  in  thousands  and  found  them  a 
palatable  dish,  though  the  wild  honey  was  lacking. 
But  still,  people  were  hungry. 

Water  was  a  serious  question.  Wood  was  too 
scarce  for  continual  fires  for  boiling,  and  eau  de  Klip 
Eiver,  seasoned  by  dead  horses  and  Kaffirs  which 
the  Boers  tumbled  regularly  into  the  stream  to  be 
washed  down  toward  the  city,  was  neither  tempting 
nor  healthful. 

BuUer's  guns  sounded  wondrous  close  during  the 
first  attack  before  Pieter's.  Then  again  they  died 
away  in  the  distance.  But  despondency  was  turned 
to  hope  when  the  Boers  were  seen  hurriedly  inspan- 
ning  their  teams  and  removing  their  guns.  The 
naval  gunners  drew  heavily  on  their  scanty  store  to 
sustain  farewells  to  the  last,  and  then  a  thunder  of 
battle  drawing  closer  and  closer  gave  the  reason  of 
the  Boer  retirement. 

But  the  north  of  the  town  was  strongly  invested, 
and  the  end  was  not  speedily  expected  until  the 
slouch  hats  of  the  Colonials  were  seen  approaching, 
and  relief  became  an  accomplished  fact. 

The  eager  townsfolk  raced  madly  out  to  greet  their 
deliverers.  Their  number  was  swelled  by  the  soldiers 
off  duty.  Strong  men  clung  to  Dundonald's  battle- 
scarred  troopers  weeping  like  children,  women  kissed 
their  deliverers  hysterically,  or  thrust  their  children 

335 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

on  the  saddles  of  the  Colonials.  Then  the  bugles 
sounded  at  headquarters,  and  General  White  and 
his  staff  rode  into  the  Market  Square  to  greet  the 
relief. 

The  starved,  fever-stricken,  ragged  garrison,  the 
no  less  emaciated  townfolk  crowded  round.  There 
was  dead  silence  as  General  and  Earl  grasped  hands. 
Then  with  a  voice  thick  with  emotion.  White  turned, 
pointed  eloquently  to  the  British  flag,  and  lifted  his 
hat. 

"  Three  cheers  for  her  Majesty  the  Queen !  " 

The  band  was  formed  by  the  well  musicians  from 
various  regiments  —  the  voices  were  weak,  and  quav- 
ered discordantly  at  the  prolonged  notes ;  but  when 
the  cheers  had  subsided,  the  strains  of  "  God  save  the 
Queen"  went  up  from  the  community  gathered  in 
the  battered,  stricken  town ;  and  no  tribute  more  sig- 
nificant or  touching  has  been  tendered  the  aged  sov- 
ereign Victoria,  unless  it  were  the  National  Anthem 
that  rose  from  the  survivors  of  Lucknow  when  the 
skirl  of  the  Campbells'  pipes  announced  Havelock's 
advent,  or  the  strains  of  that  simple  but  inspiring 
melody  sung  by  Major  Wilson  and  his  command  as 
they  were  slowly  massacred  on  the  Shangani. 

White's  speech  in  response  to  the  cheers  they  gave 
him  is  characteristic:  "Thank  God  we  kept  the  flag 
flying." 

Two  days  later  General  Buller  entered  at  the  head 
of  his  column.     The  garrison  lined  up  to  greet  the 

336 


Buller  Enters  at  Head  of  Column 

Field  Force,  but  were  obliged  to  sit  at  the  roadside 
through  sheer  weakness  long  ere  the  cheering  regi- 
ments wended  their  way  into  the  city  that  they  had 
fought  so  hard  to  relieve.  And  when  the  "dismiss  " 
rang  out  what  scenes  there  were !  "  Townies  "  found 
each  other,  comrades  were  reunited,  and  in  a  few 
hours  refugees  who  had  fled  down  country  were 
back,  some  to  find  members  of  their  family  dead, 
others  to  meet  husband,  father,  or  brother,  and  reoc- 
cupy  the  little  Natal  home,  —  pretty,  aye,  and  home, 
despite  the  gaping  shell-holes  and  surrounding  ruin. 

Before  the  column  came  in  Captain  Denny  had 
brought  up  wagon-loads  of  provisions,  but  with  char- 
acteristic stolidity  the  British  soldier  and  civilian 
bore  their  hunger  a  few  hours  longer  to  be  in  line 
to  greet  Buller.  The  ceremony  over,  nature  asserted 
her  sway,  and  there  was  an  eager  rush  for  simple 
luxuries  that  are  prized  only  after  want. 

Colonel  Morgan  brought  up  the  main  supply- 
column  soon  after,  tons  of  extras  sent  from  distant 
friends  were  distributed,  and  every  one  ate,  drank, 
and  was  merry.  Buller's  force  had  little  time  for  jol- 
lification, however.  Brother  Boer  was  still  hovering 
in  the  passes,  and  divisions  were  moved  forward  with 
little  delay  to  take  up  positions  that  would  keep  him 
out  of  Natal. 

Officers  now  saw  the  reverse  of  the  positions  that 
they  had  attempted   to  storm,  and  no   longer  won- 
dered at  reverse.     Natural  strength  apart,  the  lines 
22  337 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

of  defence  were  massive,  and  incredible.  Nature, 
Boer  subtlety,  and  the  brains  trained  in  European  mil- 
itary schools  had  combined  to  erect  the  strongest 
position  recorded  in  history.  The  relief  of  Lady- 
smith  was  a  stupendous  feat,  and  though  the  popular 
idol  of  the  hour.  Lord  Roberts,  is  reaping  most  of 
the  credit  with  the  deserved  praise  for  his  own  suc- 
cess, history  will  record  in  Buller' s  favor. 

Remember,  BuUer's  fiercest  fighting  took  place  on 
Majuba  day,  the  day  that  Cronje  surrendered  and 
the  capture  of  Bloemfontein  appeared  imminent. 
Adverse  war  news  travels  slowly  from  Pretoria. 
Pieter's  was  half  won  when  the  news  of  Bobs'  suc- 
cess was  flashed  from  Cape  Town  to  Buller.  It  took 
far  longer  to  reach  the  Boers.  Despite  a  tolerable 
veracity  in  their  war  news,  the  officials  at  Pretoria 
naturally  took  no  steps  to  dishearten  their  hardly 
pressed  forces  in  Natal,  and  Buller  had  won  and  the 
burghers  were  in  full  retreat,  ere  the  story  of  univer- 
sal disaster  in  the  Free  State  reached  them. 

The  news  turned  their  withdrawal  into  a  panic, 
and  so  hastened  their  movements  that  Buller  was 
unable  to  follow  up  his  victory  by  making  a  retreat 
a  rout.  But  the  Natal  Field  Force  relieved  Lady- 
smith,  and  to  them  is  the  credit  due. 


338 


CHAPTER  XII 

An  unexpected  Conclusion.  —  Relief  of  Kimberley.  — 
Capture  of  Cronje.  —  Collapse  of  the  Boer  Army. 

—  Roberts'  March  on  Pretoria.  —  Capture  of  Bloem- 

FONTEIN.  —  KrOONSTAD  AND  LiNDLEY  OCCUPIED.  —  IN- 
VASION OF  THE  Transvaal.  —  The  Sherman  of  1900.  — 
Capitulation  of  Pretoria.  —  The  Cost  of  the  War. 

—  Conclusion. 

History  has  been  smoothly  and  rapidly  made  dur- 
ing the  past  nine  weeks.  When  I  left  South  Africa 
Roberts  was  formulating  an  advance  north  that  was 
expected  to  provide  ample  material  for  a  second 
volume.  Judging  by  early  Boer  resistance,  there 
seemed  abundant  time  to  recuperate  by  a  trip  to  New 
York,  and  to  return  to  the  front  ere  the  British  army 
commenced  to  hammer  at  Pretoria's  gates.  The 
natural  fortresses  of  northern  Natal  and  on  the 
Transvaal  borders  contributed  conditions  by  which 
the  Boers  could  greatly  prolong  the  agony  that  they 
had  inflicted  on  Buller's  column.  After  the  relief 
of  Ladysmith,  they  would  in  reality  be  fighting  for 
their  hearths  and  homes,  and  thus  I  deemed  that  their 
past  resolution  in  the  invaded  country  would  be  in- 
creased tenfold  on  the  Transvaal  borders. 

Austria  was  forced  to  send  260,000  men  against 
55, 000  Bosniacs  twenty-one  years  ago.     The  Bosniacs 

339 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

were  indifferently  armed ;  they  had  neither  resources 
like  the  Boers  nor  modern  rifles  and  cannon.  Austria 
could  draw  her  supplies  at  hand,  and  England  was 
thousands  of  miles  from  her  main  base.  In  Cuba 
25,000  poorly  armed  and  half -starved  insurgents 
defied  260,000  Spaniards  in  that  narrow  island  for 
three  years,  when  intervention  stayed  the  struggle. 
In  1870,  during  the  invasion  of  France,  Germany  was 
forced  to  keep  160,000  men  employed  on  the  flanks 
and  line  of  communications  in  a  practically  open  coun- 
try. With  a  foe  as  mobile  and  resolute  as  the  Boers, 
and  a  country  so  favorable  to  their  tactics,  Roberts' 
advance  to  Pretoria  we  thought  would  be  through  a 
sea  of  blood,  with  communications  notated  with  dis- 
aster and  interruption. 

Roberts'  successful  march  omens  well  for  the  future. 
It  proves  above  all  things  that  the  burghers  were  led 
into  the  war  in  an  excess  of  religious  fervor,  buoyed 
by  a  sense  of  their  invincibility.  The  awakening 
was  sudden  —  they  were  amazed  at  their  temerity  and 
dazed  with  its  effect,  when  the  vast  strength  and  re- 
source of  the  despised  England  was  revealed.  Their 
early  success  was  a  proof  of  Divine  favor;  when  the 
tide  of  victory  turned  they  became  the  prey  of  doubts 
and  fears,  and  their  system  of  collective  individuality 
went  to  pieces. 

But  the  British  must  not  hurrah  too  loudly  ere 
they  are  out  of  the  wood.  The  promises  by  Kruger 
and  Steyn  of  foreign   intervention,  their  assurance 

340 


Roberts'  Successful  March 

that  Russia  had  seized  India,  that  the  United 
States  would  repeat  its  Venezuelan  attitude  regard- 
ing the  republics,  had  little  effect,  and  I  am  as- 
sured that  most  of  the  burghers  would  return  quietly 
to  their  farms,  were  they  apprised  of  considerate 
treatment.  But  the  Boer  is  credulous  to  a  fault. 
Wounded  burghers  have  recently  been  overtaken, 
crawling  over  the  burning  veldt  to  escape  the  bar- 
barous rooineJcs.  They  believe  to-day  that  Judge 
Koch  was  left  to  die  of  hunger  outside  Ladysmith, 
though  his  wife  is  with  him  while  he  convalesces  in 
practical  freedom  at  Cape  Town.  They  have  been 
misled  by  the  wilful  lies  of  their  precious  Presidents 
until  it  is  quite  possible  that  they  will  yet  cause 
grave  trouble,  and  sustain  a  severe  campaign  in 
their  mountain  fastnesses.  The  duration  of  this 
will  depend  entirely  on  the  quality  and  quantity 
of  the  reports  that  are  allowed  to  reach  them  from 
the  burghers  who  have  already  surrendered.  It  is 
significant  also  that  the  Boer  can  make  and  break 
most  solemn  oaths  of  allegiance  with  utmost  ease, 
and  entire  subjugation  may  be  a  matter  of  time  and 
difficulty. 

Roberts'  advance  has  abounded  in  picturesque 
detail;  the  thoroughness  of  his  plans  and  the  preci- 
sion of  his  movements  have  overawed  the  Boer  power 
of  resistance  at  every  point,  and  forced  them  to  make 
one  of  the  most  masterly  retreats  in  history.  I  do 
not  purpose  following  his  movements  in  extenso,  for 

341 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

his  operations  are  of  interest  rather  to  the  strategist 
than  to  the  general  reader. 

After  perfecting  details  of  his  campaign  in  Cape 
Town,  Lord  Roberts  arrived  at  Modder  River  on  Feb- 
ruary 10th  and  issued  orders  for  the  general  advance. 
For  two  months  little  had  been  accomplished  on  the 
Free  State  border.  But  reinforcements  had  been  sent 
up,  and  divisions  mobilized  until  the  command  at  his 
disposal  amounted  to  45,000  men.  Gatacre,  Mac- 
donald,  Babington,  and  French  had  been  demonstrat- 
ing and  raiding  into  the  annexed  districts,  but  on  the 
12th  the  Boers  showed  in  great  force  before  Rensburg, 
and  the  British  were  forced  to  fall  back  from  Coleskop. 
But  covered  by  this  Boer  success,  French  made  a 
forced  march  and  seized  DekiePs  Drift.  On  the  fol- 
lowing day  the  6th  and  Tth  Divisions  crossed  the  ford 
and  drove  the  Boers  from  their  positions  on  the  Riet 
River. 

While  the  main  commandoes  were  celebrating  their 
capture  of  Rensburg,  and  covered  by  a  feint  by 
Colonel  Gordon,  which  drew  two  commandoes  to 
Rondeval  Drift,  French  with  his  cavalry  division 
marched  twenty-five  miles,  crossed  Klip  Drift  on  the 
Modder,  and  captured  three  of  Cronje's  laagers. 
Traversing  the  Boer  line  of  communications,  he  then 
pressed  right  on  to  Kimberley,  surprising  the  main 
•  laager  and  depot.  The  siege  was  raised,  and  French 
entered  the  city  on  the  15th  with  a  loss  of  20  men. 
Kimberley  had   not  suffered   very  severely  by  the 

342 


§1 

2<j 


Cronje  at  Bay 

investment,  though  several  women  and  children  had 
been  killed  by  shell  fire. 

Alarmed  by  this  rapid  countermarch,  Cronje  imme- 
diately evacuated  his  main  positions  at  Magersfontein 
and  Spyfontein,  and  retired  to  Koodoosrand  Drift. 
One  of  his  commandoes  overtook  and  captured  the 
convoy  following  French  with  supplies  for  Kimberley. 
But  Roberts  now  set  his  entire  command  in  motion. 
Jacobsdal  was  captured  and  occupied,  Kelly-Kenny 
following  hot  on  Cronje 's  heels,  overtaking  wagons 
and  harassing  his  rear  guard  as  he  vainly  strove  to 
withdraw  to  the  hills  south  of  Bloemfontein.  The 
path  of  the  retreat  was  strewn  with  dead  animals  and 
abandoned  wagons,  and  the  Boer  cattle  were  finally 
exhausted  by  the  rapid  pursuit.  Tucker's  division 
headed  off  the  column  on  the  east;  the  pursuing 
divisions  were  close  behind,  and  batteries  and  cavalry 
had  d^ toured  and  were  hovering  on  the  north.  Too 
late  Cronje  found  that  the  British  could  leave  the 
railroad ;  his  disregard  of  Mareuil's  advice  had  courted 
disaster,  and  on  the  18th  he  found  himself  at  bay. 

He  laagered  his  wagons  and  prepared  for  a  vigorous 
defence.  Hasty  breastworks  were  thrown  up  along 
the  banks  of  the  Modder  River  at  Wolveskraal  Drift, 
bomb-proofs  were  dug  under  the  trees  close  to  the 
water's  edge,  the  pits  being  eighteen  inches  wide  at 
the  top  and  leading  into  excavations  that  gave  effec- 
tive shelter  from  shells  and  bullets.  For  two  days 
a  fierce  battle  raged,  the  British  losing  heavily.     But 

343 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

the  cordon  drew  closer  and  closer  around  the  doomed 
force.  The  Boers  fought  with  the  desperation  of 
despair,  and  in  their  position  they  suffered  no  great 
loss,  though  their  cattle  were  slaughtered  in  thou- 
sands and  the  laagered  wagons  were  smashed  to  pieces 
and  ignited  by  the  continuous  bombardment. 

The  stench  of  dead  horses  soon  made  their  warren 
intolerable,  but  the  defence  was  sustained  by  Cronje, 
despite  the  entreaty  of  the  burghers,  driven  to  a 
frenzy  by  hunger  and  nausea.  Lord  Roberts  sent  in 
a  flag  of  truce  on  the  20th  to  remove  Boer  women, 
children,  and  the  wounded,  but  the  brutal  leader  re- 
fused the  offer  with  his  accustomed  grace.  Cronje 
can  boast  the  dogged  pluck  of  a  brute  beast,  but  his 
style  of  heroism  is  not  inspiring,  and  his  career  is  not 
creditable,  his  bravery  notwithstanding. 

The  end  came  on  the  28th.  After  ten  days'  resist- 
ance the  dawn  of  Majuba  Day  was  fixed  for  assault. 
The  encompassed  burghers  had  sustained  a  terrible 
Mauser  fire  that  repulsed  previous  attempts  to  close 
in,  but  ere  the  sun  rose  the  Canadian  contingent 
squirmed  through  the  grass  to  within  100  yards  of 
the  outer  trenches. 

The  French  company  under  Major  Pelletier  were 
in  the  lead,  when  crashing  volleys  told  them  that  their 
advance  was  discovered.  Flinging  themselves  on 
their  faces,  the  Canadians  replied  to  this  fire,  suffer- 
ing severely,  but  never  budging,  while  two  yards 
behind  them  an  heroic  band  of  engineers  under  Kin- 

344 


Victor  and  vanquished  :  the  meeting  of  Lord  Roberts  and  General  Cronjb. 
Drawn  by  F.  de  llaeiien  from  a  sketch  by  a  British  officer. 


Arrangements  made  for  Surrender 

caid  and  Boileau  dug  a  long  trench,  into  which  the 
Canadians  withdrew.  Despite  the  darkness,  Kincaid 
had  cut  his  line  at  an  angle  from  which  half  of 
Cronje's  position  could  be  raked,  and  a  few  minutes 
after  sunset  Boers  began  to  throw  up  their  hands  and 
run  to  the  British  lines  to  escape  the  rifle  fire. 

An  hour  later  a  horseman  rode  out  with  a  white  flag, 
to  arrange  for  unconditional  surrender  on  the  follow- 
ing morning.  Having  inflicted  a  loss  of  98  officers 
and  1,436  men  during  his  vigorous  defence,  Cronje 
and  his  command  of  4,115  burghers  then  capitulated. 
Mrs.  Cronje  followed  her  husband  to  captivity,  grimly 
clinging  to  a  black  silk  dress  stolen  from  Lady  Wil- 
son while  a  prisoner  in  the  Mafeking  laager. 

On  March  5th  Labuschagne  was  defeated  by  Bra- 
bant, Gatacre  drove  the  Boers  from  the  Stormbergen, 
and  the  "  annexed  "  district  again  passed  under  Brit- 
ish rule.  The  commandoes  concentrated  at  Poplar 
Grove,  Presidents  Kruger  and  Steyn  came  to  the 
front  from  Bloemfontein  with  several  fresh  comman- 
does, and  the  burghers  took  up  a  strong  position  ex- 
tending fourteen  miles  across  the  Modder.  On  the 
7th  the  cavalry  brigade  turned  the  enemy's  left  flank, 
the  6th  Division  moved  round  the  flank  to  menace  the 
line  of  retreat,  and  the  entire  Boer  army,  seized 
with  panic,  fled  in  confusion.  Kruger  and  Steyn 
strove  to  rally  their  forces,  the  latter  lashing  his  Free 
Staters  to  hold  them  to  the  trenches,  but  the  retreat 
was  general,  mounted  infantry,  cavalry,   and  horse 

345 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

batteries  pressing  the  fleeing  burghers  to  Abraham's 
Kraal,  where  the  Z.  A.  R.  P.  commando  under  Van 
Dam  arrived  to  make  a  plucky  stand,  checking  the 
pursuit  and  enabling  the  scattered  forces  to  reform 
behind  them. 

The  Boers  then  occupied  a  strong  row  of  kopjes  at 
Driefontein,  fifteen  miles  east  of  Poplar  Grove. 
Roberts  attacked  on  March  10th  the  Welsh  and  Essex 
of  the  6th  Division  storming  the  first  line  of  defences 
and  inflicting  severe  loss  on  the  enemy.  The  cavalry 
again  turned  the  flank  and  the  Boers  were  routed, 
leaving  173  dead  on  the  field.  Repeated  abuse  of  the 
white  flag,  and  the  use  of  explosive  bullets  during  the 
battle  led  Lord  Roberts,  who  twice  witnessed  the 
former,  to  protest  against  Boer  methods  of  war. 

The  disheartened  burghers  fell  back  to  a  strong 
position  along  the  highroad  to  Bloemfontein.  Rob- 
erts, however,  led  his  army  by  forced  marches  around 
the  flank,  through  Venter's  Vlei,  French's  cavalry 
closing  on  the  Free  State  capital  on  the  evening 
of  the  12th.  Disconcerted  at  the  rapid  counter- 
march, and  fearing  their  retreat  would  be  cut  off, 
the  Boers  evacuated  their  final  position,  and  on  the 
13th  Mr.  Frazer,  Steyn's  rival  for  the  presidency  and 
the  head  of  the  strong  anti-war  party  in  the  Free 
State,  met  Lord  Roberts  on  the  outskirts  of  Bloem- 
fontein and  formally  surrendered  the  capital.  Hun- 
dreds of  burghers  now  surrendered  and  took  the  oath 
of  allegiance.      President   Steyn,  however,  removed 

346 


Death  of  General  Joubert 

the  capital  to  Kroonstadt,  where  the  Boers  prepared 
to  make  the  great  stand  of  the  war.  President  Kru- 
ger  now  decided  that  the  Free  State  had  forfeited  its 
independence,  and  coolly  annexed  it  to  the  Transvaal. 
This  action  made  a  wide  breach  between  the  allies, 
and  hundreds  of  Free  Staters  returned  home  in  dis- 
gust. Steyn  refused  to  fight  as  a  Transvaaler,  and 
finally  Kruger  withdrew  his  proclamation. 

On  the  night  of  March  27,  General  Joubert,  who 
had  long  been  ailing,  passed  quietly  away  in  Pre- 
toria. The  death  of  the  "  Grand  Old  Man  "  of  South 
Africa  was  an  irreparable  loss  to  the  Transvaal  cause. 
Incorruptible,  liberal,  and  of  sterling  honesty,  the 
commandant  general  represented  all  that  is  best  in 
the  Boer  character.  "Nature  made  him  and  then 
broke  the  mould."  Though  he  adopted  an  uncom- 
promising attitude  against  the  Raiders,  his  liberal 
views  toward  the  Uitlanders  during  the  early  Reform 
movement  lost  him  both  his  civil  official  position  and 
his  popularity  inasmuch  as  in  1898  he  secured  less 
than  one-third  of  the  votes  recorded  for  him  in  the 
previous  presidential  election  in  1893.  As  Kipling 
said  of  him,  — 

"  With  those  that  loosed  the  strife 
He  had  no  part,  whose  hands  were  clear  of  gain ; " 

but  he  was  a  great  patriot,  ready  to  sacrifice  all  for 
his  country.  His  military  glory  waned  somewhat 
after  his  failure  to  take  Ladysmith,  and  the  brave  old 
spirit  was  sorely  tried  by  the  petty  bickering  and 

347 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

jealousies  dominating  the  affairs  of  the  Transvaal. 
He  gradually  relaxed  his  hold  on  military  affairs  until 
the  end,  when  Botha  succeeded  him  —  certainly  the 
most  worthy  successor  on  the  roster,  and  one  whom 
we  may  hope  to  see  Premier  of  the  Transvaal  under 
the  new  regime. 

While  Roberts  was  re-mobilizing  at  Bloemfontein 
and  Kitchener  was  again  giving  proof  of  his  vast  ad- 
ministrative ability  by  reorganizing  the  transport  and 
equipping  the  ragged  army  to  face  the  winter  of  the 
African  uplands,  Boer  commandoes  under  De  Wet 
swept  down  the  southeast  flank  of  the  British,  mov- 
ing against  Colonel  Broadwood  and  a  small  column 
occupying  Thaba  Nchu,  forty  miles  east  of  the  capital. 
Fearing  to  be  cut  off,  the  British  commander  retired 
to  the  Water  Works,  seventeen  miles  from  Bloem- 
fontein, to  which  place  the  9th  division  was  at  once 
despatched. 

Before  the  reinforcing  column  arrived  De  Wet 
attacked  on  three  sides,  and  Broadwood  decided  to 
send  his  baggage,  with  Q  and  U  Batteries,  Horse 
Artillery,  and  the  Mounted  Infantry  into  the  capital. 
To  check  anticipated  reinforcements,  and  to  cut  off 
Broadwood' s  retreat  if  defeated,  De  Wet  had  placed 
the  Winburg,  Moroka  and  Ladybrand  burghers  in  a 
deep  donga  and  along  a  spruit  on  the  main  road  in 
the  British  rear.  The  Boers  were  greatly  surprised 
to  discover  the  convoy  advancing  leisurely  into  the 
trap  at  4  a.  m.  ,  en  route  to  Bloemfontein. 

348 


British  Fall  into  a  Trap 

The  advance  guard  was  allowed  to  cross  the  water; 
the  wagons,  intersected  with  the  batteries,  were 
winding  down  the  steep  banks  into  the  ford,  when 
volleys  were  poured  into  them  at  close  range.  Gun- 
ners, troopers,  and  drivers  were  shot  down  ;  horses 
and  mules  fell  in  writhing  heaps.  Five  guns  of  U 
Battery  were  captured,  but  one  team  bolted  when  the 
drivers  had  been  shot  from  the  saddles,  finally  draw- 
ing up  with  their  gun  in  the  British  lines.  Q  battery 
was  further  in  rear  and  suffered  less.  Under  a 
heavy  fire,  the  surviving  gunners  manhandled  four  of 
the  guns  over  the  rocky  veldt  from  the  tangled  mass 
of  wagons  and  teams  and  commenced  to  heavily  shell 
the  Boers,  keeping  them  at  bay  until  reinforcements 
arrived  and  the  pieces  were  safe.  Of  the  entire 
convoy,  however,  360  failed  to  answer  to  their  names, 
killed  and  wounded  constituting  the  greater  number 
of  "missing." 

Colville  had  left  Bloemfontein  at  dawn  to  relieve 
Broadwood.  Hearing  the  firing,  the  division  marched 
the  17  miles  at  a  rapid  pace.  Hector  Macdonald's 
Highlanders,  coming  on  the  enemy  in  the  main  drift, 
forced  them  to  abandon  some  of  the  wagons,  but  the 
bulk  of  the  convoy  with  the  captured  guns  had  been 
sent  to  the  rear,  and  before  Dorrien's  brigade  could 
outflank  the  commandoes  the  captures  had  been 
despatched  up  country.  After  a  stiff  fight  the  Boers 
were  beaten  off,  and  retired  to  Brandfort. 

But  Lemmer,  Olivier,  and  Grobler,  who  had  been 
349 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

retreating  from  the  South,  now  joined  De  Wet.  In- 
spirited by  his  victory,  they  combined  forces,  and 
swept  along  the  southeastern  border  of  the  Free 
State,  reoccupying  the  grain  country,  where  hundreds 
of  farmei'S  had  given  up  their  arms  and  surrendered 
to  the  British.  The  fate  of  these  burghers  was  ex- 
tremely hard.  Of  those  who  had  the  temerity  to 
refuse  to  rejoin  the  Boers  several  were  shot  as  traitors ; 
the  others  were  sent  to  Pretoria,  and  in  all  cases 
homes  and  stock  were  looted  and  destroyed.  Com- 
mandant-general Pretorius,  who  had  surrendered, 
was  seized  by  a  troop  of  Zarps  and  sent  to  the  Trans- 
vaal, where  he  has  been  condemned  to  what  will 
prove  life  imprisonment  to  so  aged  a  man. 

The  commandoes  swooped  down  on  Reddersburg, 
forcing  three  companies  each  of  the  Royal  Irish  and 
9th  Mounted  Infantry  to  surrender  after  a  plucky 
resistance  of  a  day  and  night  exposed  to  the  fire  of 
five  guns.  Gatacre's  attempts  to  extricate  these 
troops  miscarried,  and  after  this  second  failure  he 
was  recalled  to  England,  his  reputation  marred  by 
attempting  great  things  with  too  small  a  force  to  even 
the  chances  of  victory. 

Menacing  the  line  of  communications  south  of 
Bloemfontein,  Olivier  and  De  Wet  now  had  8,000 
men.  Finding  that  the  railroad  was  strongly  occu- 
pied, they  moved  along  the  Basutoland  border,  invest- 
ing Wepener,  with  its  garrison  of  Colonials  under 
Dalgetty.    From  April  5th  until  the  28th,  in  roughly 

350 


Trap  Laid  for  Boers 

constructed  defences,  this  small  force  withstood  suc- 
cessive assaults  of  a  force  ten  times  their  superior, 
under  continuous  bombardment  from  five  guns. 

With  Dalgetty's  force  as  a  bait,  Roberts  rapidly- 
prepared  a  trap  for  the  Boers  in  the  interim.  Run- 
die  was  ordered  to  Springfontein,  Chermside,  Gat- 
acre's  successor,  gathered  his  division  at  Bethanie,  and 
Pole-Carew  with  the  guards  moved  down  to  the  Kaffir 
River.  Dickson,  with  the  4th  Cavalry  brigade,  and 
Dorrien's  Infantry  brigade,  with  an  artillery  division, 
then  marched  beyond  Korn  Spruit  to  cut  off  the 
retreat  northward. 

The  British  advance  was  contested  at  all  points  by 
burghers  swarming  the  kopjes,  and  ere  the  cordon 
could  be  completed  to  encircle  Wepener,  the  com- 
mandoes hurriedly  retired,  hugging  close  to  the 
Basutoland  border.  Superior  mobility  and  knowledge 
of  the  country  enabled  the  bulk  of  the  Boer  forces  to 
get  clear  by  skilful  manoeuvres  which  could  not  be 
anticipated  by  the  infantry  encumbered  with  transport. 

Roberts  had  formed  an  advanced  base  at  Karree 
Siding  on  the  Pretoria  railroad.  With  the  southern 
districts  clear  of  the  enemy,  he  gathered  in  his  divi- 
sions, and  with  machine-like  precision,  in  an  extended 
line,  the  centre  resting  on  the  railroad,  he  swept  for- 
ward from  the  siding  against  the  Boer  positions  on 
the  Vet  River. 

With  French  and  the  cavalry  on  the  left,  Hamil- 
ton, with  the  Mounted  Infantry  on  the  right  and  the 

351 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

7th,  11th,  and  9th  divisions  between  them,  Roberts' 
front  covered  twenty-five  miles,  and  after  a  desultory- 
affair  of  outposts,  the  Boers,  rather  than  risk  envel" 
opment,  retired. 

Similar  lines  on  the  Zand  and  Valsch  rivers,  where 
the  Boer  intrenchments  extended  over  a  front  of 
twenty  miles,  were  occupied  in  a  like  manner,  and 
despite  the  elaborate  preparations  for  prolonged 
defence,  Kroonstad,  the  second  capital,  was  captured 
on  May  12th. 

A  large  force  of  Free  Staters,  massed  north  of 
Ladybrand,  had  threatened  the  communications,  but 
masking  them  with  the  divisions  of  Rundle  and 
Brabant,  Roberts  had  boldly  pressed  on,  sustaining 
twenty  miles  a  day,  maintaining  vigorous  artillery 
duels,  repairing  bridges  and  culverts  destroyed  by 
the  retiring  enemy,  and  so  rapidly  outflanking  them 
at  every  point  that  they  were  forced  to  retire  after 
fierce  but  ineffectual  struggles.  Numbers  told.  How 
different  might  have  been  the  story  of  Ladysmith  had 
Buller  been  allotted  sufficient  men  to  assail  the  enemy 
on  their  entire  front  and  at  the  same  time  envelop 
their  flanks ! 

Roberts'  army  suffered  some  hardship,  though  the 
personal  magnetism  of  "Bobs"  soothes  complaint,  even 
of  men  forced  to  fight  on  a  biscuit  per  day.  But  the 
matter  of  supply  was  very  thoroughly  solved,  and  the 
Army  Service  Corps  worked  stores  from  the  railroad 
to  the  flanks  and  outlying  commands  in  miraculous 

352 


Engagement  with  Boers  on  Western  Border 

fashion.  To  sustain  the  system,  300  officers,  2,700 
bakers,  butchers,  and  artificers,  7,000  native  drivers, 
950  horses,  1,500  mules,  25,000  oxen,  and  3,000  vehi- 
cles were  constantly  employed. 

During  the  month  Buller  had  slowly  swept  the 
Boers  from  Natal,  recapturing  Dundee,  and  forcing 
the  commandoes  into  their  passes.  They  held  a  strong 
position  on  Laing's  Nek,  the  scene  of  their  old  victory, 
but  they  were  finally  outflanked,  and  after  a  severe 
fight,  were  forced  to  retire.  Clery's  Engineers  are 
now  rapidly  repairing  the  tunnel  under  the  Nek. 
Buller  occupies  Wakkerstroom,  and  is  in  communica- 
tion with  Roberts.  With  the  railroad  restored  he 
should  soon  be  able  to  advance  west  and  join  Roberts. 
If  he  can  sustain  connections  and  transport,  however, 
he  will  despatch  a  flying  column  due  north  through 
Amersfoort  and  Ermelo,  120  miles,  to  hold  the  rail- 
road to  Lorenzo  Marques.  This  difficult  movement 
will  cut  the  Boers  entirely  from  the  outside  world. 

On  May  4th,  Hunter  and  the  10th  division  engaged 
the  Boers  on  the  western  border.  Colonel  Malion, 
with  a  picked  force  of  1,600  mounted  Colonials  with 
four  guns  and  supplies  carried  by  packmules  and 
light  carts,  secretly  left  Barkly  West  to  relieve 
Mafeking.  Making  a  detour,  they  passed  rapidly 
northward  to  Kraaipan,  where  they  had  a  severe  but 
successful  fight  on  the  13th.  Continuing  well  to 
the  west  of  the  investing  commandoes,  on  the  17th 
they  joined  hands  with  Colonel  Plumer  and  his  pluckj' 
23  353 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Rhodesian  command  that  had  suffered  severely  in 
previous  attempts  to  relieve  Baden-Powell. 

Mafeking  was  in  its  last  gasp.  With  little  prepar- 
ation it  had  been  forced  to  withstand  one  of  the 
longest  sieges  in  modern  history.  Many  citizens  bore 
arms,  but  with  the  police  and  guards  the  garrison  only 
mustered  1,100.  The  investing  commandoes  had  been 
strongly  reinforced  after  the  relief  of  Ladysmith. 
President  Kruger,  desirous  of  capturing  at  least  one 
British  garrison,  despatched  his  nephew,  Saret  Eloff, 
with  a  picked  column  to  carry  the  town  at  all  haz- 
ards. At  4  A.  M.,  on  the  13th,  Eloff,  with  700 
burghers,  crept  up  the  bed  of  the  Molopo  River  and 
succeeded  in  forcing  a  gap  through  the  line  of  ema- 
ciated defenders.  Two  forts  were  rushed  and  the 
Boers  gained  a  footing  in  the  town,  Eloff  shouting 
to  the  citizens  to  surrender  or  face  annihilation. 

But  "  Umhlala  Panzi "  was  not  to  be  thus  surprised. 
As  the  Boers  burned  the  Baralong  quarter  and  occu- 
pied the  fortified  police  barracks,  he  coolly  sent  for- 
ward the  artillery  under  Major  Panzera,  detached  by 
telephone,  squadrons  of  the  Protectorate  regiment, 
the  Rifles,  and  Cape  Police  from  other  points  in  the 
perimeter,  and  by  a  quick  movement  swept  back  the 
Boer  supports,  and  filled  in  the  gap  with  these  troops. 
At  sunrise  the  line  of  defences  was  intact,  with  Eloff 
and  his  picked  force  shut  inside  the  town. 

I  have  seen  Baden-Powell  under  trying  circum- 
stances, before  he  had  made  a  great  name.     He  was 

354 


Baden-Powell 

never  perturbed,  and  many  officers  said  that  if  lie  sur- 
vived the  West  African  fever,  he  would  one  day  be 
Commander-in-Chief.  Tradition  has  it  that  the  sol- 
dier spared  by  those  pestiferous  regions  will  survive 
all  subsequent  service.  It  was  characteristic  of  the 
man  to  sit  down  to  breakfast  when  he  had  cut  off  his 
foe,  and  send  an  invitation  to  Eloff  to  surrender  and 
break  biscuit  with  him. 

The  young  Boer  declined  the  invitation  until  tea- 
time,  when,  finding  that  Snyman  had  abandoned 
him  to  his  fate,  he  surrendered  with  his  party,  and 
Baden-Powell  had  to  provide  entertainment  for  135 
uninvited  but  welcome  guests  of  her  Majesty. 

The  extra  mouths  to  feed  tried  the  commissariat 
severely,  but  on  May  16  a  sudden  cannonade  and 
commotion  in  the  Boer  lines  told  the  hopeless  gar- 
rison that  relief  had  come  at  last.  Mahon  and 
Plumer  had  a  hard  fight,  but  they  were  finally 
reinforced  by  some  Canadian  artillery,  and  a  squadron 
of  Queenslanders  from  Carrington's  force  that  had 
landed  at  Beira  and  was  advancing  from  the  north. 

The  Boers,  6,000  strong,  were  finally  driven  from 
the  western  kopjes,  and  Baden-Powell  joined  hands 
with  the  relief,  his  brother,  a  major  of  Mahon's 
staff,  being  the  first  to  greet  him.  The  combined 
forces  after  a  brief  rest  moved  out  against  Snyman, 
who  had  rallied  his  forces  on  the  northern  kopjes. 
But  after  a  second  fight,  in  which  the  seasoned  irreg- 
ulars met  the  Boers  with  their  own  tactics,  the  Koofd- 

855 


In  South  Africa  with  BuUer 

laager  was  stormed,  the  burghers  were  routed,  and 
Snyman  narrowly  escaped  capture. 

After  the  fall  of  Kroonstad  President  Steyn  moved 
his  capital  and  defence  to  Lindley.  The  Boers 
were  demoralized,  however,  600  Free  Staters  desert- 
ing and  giving  up  their  arms.  A  gramophone  in  the 
house  of  a  Scotch  Free  Stater  started  to  reproduce 
Sousa's  band  in  the  "  Washington  Post "  on  the  even- 
ing of  the  16th.  The  sound  wafted  through  the 
open  window  was  mistaken  by  some  burghers  as  the 
military  bands  of  the  British  in  the  distance;  the 
alarm  was  given,  and  again  the  forces  started  to 
retire. 

A  few  of  the  more  resolute  manned  the  trenches, 
and  on  the  following  morning  General  Hamilton 
came  up  with  his  division,  routed  the  burghers,  and 
the  unfortunate  Steyn  has  been  forced  to  admit  the 
loss  of  his  State.  It  was  formally  annexed  to  the 
Crown  as  the  Orange  River  State  on  May  28,  a  very 
large  number  of  the  inhabitants  celebrating  the 
change  of  rule  with  acclamations,  and  hope  for  the 
future. 

Roberts  continued  his  swift  advance  north,  which 
parallels  Sherman's  march  from  Chattanooga  to  the 
sea,  exceeding  it  in  distance,  equalling  it  in  the 
number  of  troops  on  both  sides,  and  the  fighting  re- 
treat of  the  retiring  army.  Military  critics  foretold 
certain  disaster  to  Sherman :  no  less  an  authority  than 
M.  Bloch  has  pointed   out  the  impossibility  of  the 

356 


British  Flag  Hoisted  over  the  Rand 

British  invasion.  But  Roberts  celebrated  the  Queen's 
birthday  by  invading  the  Transvaal,  French  forcing 
a  passage  and  flanking  the  Boers  on  the  historic  Vaal 
River,  where  they  had  prepared  for  a  strenuous 
resistance. 

The  young  general,  Ian  Hamilton,  now  made  a  bril- 
liant move.  As  French  forced  the  river  on  the  west 
and  the  Boers  massed  to  meet  him,  Hamilton's 
Mounted  Infantry  made  a  rapid  countermarch  on  the 
east,  occupying  Heilbron  and  threatening  the  Boer 
rear.  The  burghers  made  a  plucky  fight,  but  were 
forced  slowly  northwest  as  Roberts  came  up  with 
the  main  divisions  in  the  centre,  crossed  the  Vaal 
unopposed,  and  swept  on  to  Johannesburg. 

Many  of  the  Doppers  had  determined  to  destroy  the 
mines.  But  Botha,  Meyer,  and  other  leaders,  learn- 
ing that  the  British  would  respect  private  property, 
and  having  large  interests  at  stake,  strenuously 
opposed  this  measure  ;  and  during  the  parley,  while 
Hamilton  and  French  were  engaged  on  the  west,  the 
British  appeared  before  the  city,  and  it  was  peace- 
fully surrendered. 

On  May  31st  Lord  Roberts  entered  the  city,  and  at 
2  p.  M.  the  British  flag  was  formally  hoisted  over  the 
Rand.  It  was  greeted  by  the  frantic  cheers  of  the 
nondescripts  in  this  Balnibarbi,  the  foundation  of 
which  may  prove  an  eventual  blessing  to  South 
Africa  —  an  evil  from  which  good  may  come.  They 
also    attempted    to    sing   "God    save    the   Queen" 

357 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

with  the  soldiers  that  a  day  before  they  had  been 
reviling. 

Some  old  burghers  were  broken-hearted;  two  re- 
tained their  cockades  and  refused  to  remove  their  hats. 
"  Hats  off  I  "  shouted  certain  craven  city  officials, 
anxious  as  the  Vicar  of  Bray  to  gain  favor  of  the 
conquerors ;  and  they  attempted  to  remove  the  offend- 
ing headgear.  Lord  Roberts  whispered  two  words  to 
his  staff  officers,  who  roughly  forced  the  officious 
renegades  aside  and  took  the  now  trembling  Boers 
before  the  general.  The  crowd  and  they  were  visi- 
bly surprised  when  the  old  soldier  shook  them  warmly 
by  the  hand,  inquired  where  they  were  from,  and 
promised  to  arrange  for  their  wives  and  families  to 
come  into  the  lines.  Both  raised  their  hats  when 
they  left  and  felt  a  sudden  respect  for  the  rooinehs. 

A  wounded  Boer  artilleryman  was  hissed  by  the 
irresponsible  scum,  suddenly  proclaiming  themselves 
pro-British,  and  when  he  retaliated,  he  was  roughly 
hustled.  Two  officers  of  the  Guards,  one  a  lord, 
drove  back  the  crowd.  "He  is  the  enemy,"  yelled 
one  who  knew  English.  "Yes,  who  fought  for  his 
country,  which  you  cowards  never  did,"  was  the 
characteristic  reply  as  the  officers  handed  the  gunner 
over  to  two  soldiers  with  ten  shillings  to  promote  an 
Anglo-Boer  alliance. 

Leaving  the  palatial  hotels  for  others,  Roberts  estab- 
lished his  headquarters  in  a  little  inn  in  the  suburbs ; 
and  while  Johannesburg  was  celebrating  its  change  of 

358 


Sandberg  Asks  for  Armistice 

masters  in  noisy  rowdyism,  the  general -in-chief  sat 
with  the  innkeeper's  baby-daughter  on  his  knee, 
giving  her  a  writing  lesson,  while  another  tot  strutted 
around  the  sanded  floor  in  the  field  marshal's  hat 
and  gloves.  "Oh  that  all  these  English  were  like 
this !  "  soliloquized  the  Boer  handmaiden  in  the  hear- 
ing of  a  correspondent. 

Though  President  Kruger  declared  that  Pretoria 
would  be  defended  to  the  last,  Botha  was  only  able 
to  retain  enough  burghers  to  fight  a  rear-guard  action 
to  cover  the  removal  of  specie,  archives,  and  rolling- 
stock  from  the  capital. 

On  June  4th  the  Boers  opened  with  several  guns  at 
long  range  as  the  British  crossed  Six  Mile  Spruit,  and 
2,000  burghers  fiercely  contested  the  advance  from  a 
row  of  kopjes  commanding  the  river.  The  British 
naval  guns  were  moved  forward  so  rapidly  that  the 
Boer  artillery  was  silenced.  The  burghers  then 
moved  in  between  Roberts'  left  and  centre,  but  after 
a  hot  fight  Hamilton  in  turn  outflanked  them.  French 
then  swept  round  to  the  north  of  the  capital,  and 
the  forces  closed  in.  Outmanoeuvred  at  all  points, 
the  Boers  galloped  into  the  city  with  their  field 
guns  and  escaped  by  train  just  before  the  cordon  was 
completed. 

At  midnight  Sandberg  rode  into  Roberts'  head- 
quarters asking  for  an  armistice  and  terms  of  surren- 
der. He  was  sent  back  with  a  demand  of  uncondi- 
tional capitulation.     On  the  following  morning  the 

359 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

civil  officials  came  out  with  a  flag  of  truce  and  for- 
mally surrendered  the  town,  and  at  2  p.  m.,  June  5, 
the  British  flag  waved  once  more  over  the  Transvaal 
capital. 

Prior  to  the  occupation,  the  last  train  from  Preto- 
ria drew  up  at  Waterval,  where  the  British  prisoners 
were  confined.  The  soldiers,  hearing  of  Roberts' 
approach,  had  determined  to  resist  any  attempt  to 
remove  them ;  but  when  four  unarmed  Boer  officials 
ordered  them  to  prepare  to  return  to  the  city,  where 
they  were  to  be  given  up,  their  suspicions  were 
quieted,  and  1,000  entered  the  empty  train,  which 
was  run  out  of  the  siding  and  then  steamed  full- 
speed  up  country.  French's  approach  stopped  a 
further  removal  by  this  trick,  which  has  enabled 
Kruger  to  hold  an  entire  regiment  as  hostage. 

Boer  cannon,  arms,  and  tons  of  supplies  had  been 
moved  to  Lydenburg,  which  is  now  announced  as  the 
Transvaal  capital.  Here  fertile  valleys  with  thou- 
sands of  cattle  are  enclosed  in  a  series  of  volcanic 
ramparts  and  steep  passes,  which  will  give  the  Boers 
a  practically  impregnable  refuge. 

At  this  time  it  is  impossible  to  gauge  the  deter- 
mination of  the  burghers.  Many  of  the  extreme 
Doppers  will  probably  never  accept  British  rule,  but 
since  Mrs.  Kruger,  Mrs.  Botha,  and  the  wives  of  the 
prominent  officials  have  remained  in  Pretoria,  I  be- 
lieve that  the  withdrawal  to  Lydenburg  is  a  measure 
of  defence  rather  than  defiance.     If  the  leaders  are 

360 


Impossible  to  Gauge  Burghers'  Determination 

assured  that  they  will  not  be  exiled  or  sent  into  cap- 
tivity, I  think  that  they  will  shortly  surrender. 

Some  of  the  farmers  have  decided  to  trek  across 
Bechuanaland  into  German  Southwest  Africa.  But 
the  military  governor,  Major  Luetwein,  will  hardly 
extend  a  welcome  to  them.  His  predecessor,  Major 
Von  Francois,  after  experiments  in  Boer  emigration, 
was  forced  to  exclude  them  in  1892,  and  has  recently 
advised  the  German  government  against  giving  the 
burghers  tracts  of  grazing  land  that  Teutonic  colon- 
ists have  been  so  slow  to  take  up.  Both  the  Witbools 
and  the  Herrero  tribe  have  declared  that  they  will 
fight  against  the  Boers  if  they  trek  into  their 
domains ;  and  the  German  officials  feel  that  while  the 
Boer  ideals  will  do  little  to  develop  the  country, 
their  treatment  of  the  blacks  will  cause  endless  wars. 

Those  who  speak  of  transplanting  the  Boers  in  the 
United  States  forget  that  the  burghers  then  will  not 
only  be  under  alien  rule,  but  they  will  lose  the  privi- 
lege of  Taal  as  an  official  language,  —  a  concession 
promised  by  England  to  those  who  remain  where  they 
are.  The  Boers  will  find  more  opportunity  of  retain- 
ing phases  of  their  nationality  in  South  Africa  than  in 
any  other  country.  The  United  States  will  hardly 
alter  a  constitution  to  suit  a  few  irreconcilables  who 
hate  everything  pertaining  to  the  Anglo-Saxon  and 
his  language,  and  quasi  independent  alien  communi- 
ties are  not  a  valuable  adjunct  to  the  republic. 

There  are  many  indications  that  the  rising  genera- 
361 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 


tion  of  Boers  will  willingly  accept  the  progressive 
conditions  of  the  new  era.  Krugerism  chiefly  affects 
the  older  generation.  As  Mr.  Poultney  Bigelow 
aptly  puts  it,  "  Kruger  is  merely  the  outward  mani- 
festation of  a  morbid  state  that  has  afflicted  South 
Africa  from  the  Cape  to  the  Zambesi."  There  are 
two  extremes :  "  Kruger,  the  retrograde  cattle-herder, 
and  the  financial  sharks  of  the  Rand."  But  these 
cannot  control  the  destiny  of  South  Africa.  While 
the  one  extreme  attracted  thousands  of  people  to  the 
country,  where  they  were  oppressed  by  the  other, 
the  removal  of  that  oppression  by  no  means  strength- 
ens the  hands  of  the  capitalists.  But  it  will  enable 
all  nationalities  to  become  assimilated  in  a  common 
country,  and  a  vast  self-governing  colony  or  federa- 
tion will  be  the  result. 

The  war  has  surprised  but  has  not  yet  staggered 
humanity.  The  losses  have  been  rather  heavy,  and 
the  cost  high.  During  the  first  seven  months  of  the 
war,  to  midnight  of  May  12,  1900,  the  losses  were: 

Killed  in  action       .     .     .       227  officers     2,111  men 
Died  of  wounds        ...       58       «  513    '^ 

Missing  and  prisoners  (ex- 
cluding those  recovered 


before  this  date) 

.    .     168      " 

4,291     '' 

Died  of  disease    . 

.    .      75      " 

2,4:17       '' 

Accidental  deaths 

1      ** 

54    '' 

Wounded  .     .     .     . 

.     .    763      '* 

10,063    '' 

Total  loss      . 

.     .     .  1,292  officers 
362 

19,449  men 

Cost  of  the  War 

The  operations  against  Pieter's  Hill  head  the  list 
with  an  aggregate  loss  of  113  officers,  1,782  men. 
Spion  Kop  cost  87  officers,  1,646  men.  At  Cronje's 
capture  at  Paardeberg  the  losses  were  98  officers, 
1,436  men.  Up  to  May  13,  480  officers  and  8,421 
men  had  been  invalided  to  England,  some  2,000  more 
were  in  hospitals  in  South  Africa,  and  I  roughly 
estimate  that  the  loss  covering  the  occupation  of 
Pretoria  aggregates  1,200,  of  which  the  proportion 
of  killed  is  not  heavy. 

The  financial  cost  of  the  war  should  be  carefully 
compared  with  the  expenditure  of  the  Spanish  Amer- 
ican and  Philippine  wars.  The  supplemented  army 
estimate  for  the  year  ending  March  31,  1900,  cover- 
ing the  initial  preparations  and  the  first  six  months 
of  war,  the  transfers  from  the  Indian  Establishment, 
the  Reserve  and  Militia,  and  the  Colonial  Corps  to 
the  British  establishment,  until  it  reached  339,853 
men,  155,000  above  normal  strength,  was  £43,617,200. 
This  was  distributed  as  follows :  — 

Pay  of  the  army £9,909,000 

Medical  establishment 425,800 

Militia  (pay,  &c.) 1,071,000 

Yeomanry  cavalry  (pay  and  allowances)         80, 000 

Volunteer  corps ^.     .        639,200 

Land  and  sea  transport  and  purchase 

of  remounts  and  transport  animals  .10,690,000 

Provisions,  forage,  &c 8,325,500 

Clothing 2,240,000 

363 


In  South  Africa  with  Buller 

Warlike  and  other  stores     ....  5,281,000 

Engineer  services 1,461,900 

War  office,  maintenance,  staff,  cables, 

etc 258,300 

Extra   surplus  provided  by  original 

peace  estimate  for  the  year   .      .     .  3,235,500 

£43,617,200 

A  perusal  of  these  figures  will  prove  that,  while 
the  British  soldier  has  had  small  cause  for  complaint, 
the  interests  of  the  British  taxpayer  have  been  care- 
fully studied.  Certainly  in  no  war  in  history  have 
more  ample  provisions  been  made  for  the  army. 

If  the  people  of  the  British  empire,  by  legislation, 
will  curtail  the  monopolies  of  financial  magnates  and 
aid  their  administrators  to  as  carefully  foster  the 
colonial  spirit  in  South  Africa  as  in  other  great 
self-governing  colonies,  it  will  be  safe  to  prophesy 
that  the  expenditure  of  blood  and  money  will  prove 
trivial  for  the  good  accruing. 

Salus  populi  su]prema  est  lex. 


TBTE  EKD 


364 


BOOU.  not  re.-i  »tS.S  SHiS'^l 


l5tn-4, 


U     OMH  /H 


